#otp: the prince and the doctor

[hoffmans-hoffman]

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[mymitochondriaforpresident]

I hope you know this is my new favorite thing, like, ever.

💓💗.

[visualtaehyun]

9 People You'd Like To Get To Know Better

I've been up since like 3 am because of jetlag so I thought I might as well answer one of the thingies I've been tagged in, thank you @airenyah ✨️

3 ships

1) Scallisaac - Scott, Allison and Isaac (Teen Wolf)

A perfect triad that first opened my eyes to poly ships and triads in particular! I gotta rec this one fic here that's been percolating in my brain for, oh, just- you know, a decade 🙂

2) River/Doctor - River Song and the 11th doctor (Doctor Who), or as I used to tag them- OTP: Whoney I'm home :D

They were arguably my first major OTP after I first learned what that means lol I love a flirty dynamic, bickering, tragic fated lovers, and time travel! My time in the Doctor Who fandom was when I first taught myself how to gif and use photoshop (back when I still had it...) so there's a bunch of gifsets and edits still on my blog from around then, at least one of which I remember featuring this ship!

3) To no one's surprise, I gotta nod along to one of @airenyah 's choices: Destiel - Dean and Castiel (Supernatural)

The amount of fics I read...! I even still have a 9 year old inactive sideblog that I made, posted a lot on, and then abandoned all within the span of one year lmao

First ship

I honestly don't remember but since one of my earliest fandoms was W.i.t.c.h., I'm just gonna say it was one of the canon relationships, like Will x Matt or either of Cornelia's romances

Last song

Spotify tells me it's Blooming Just For You (꽃이 피는데 필요한 몇 가지) by NuNew and Paul Kim but that's kind of cheating since I've been using it as an alarm recently lol

So, checking my recently played, the next one down is จังหวะตกหลุมรัก (Magic Moment) by DIDIxDADA ✨️

Currently reading

I'm still reading เจ้าชายน้อย /jao chaai naawy/, The Little Prince in Thai, because I tend to read a chapter while marking unfamiliar words as I go but then the looking up of them all afterwards takes me forever so I'm kinda lazy about reading it 😂

Last movie

The Lost Lotteries, or in Thai: ปฏิบัติการกู้หวย (/bpa dti bat gaan guu huay/ = Operation Recovering Lotteries)

It's a Thai comedy from 2022 that's basically about a heist but since I know folks here love First Kanaphan, here's my tumblr pitch: he stars as a spoiled rich kid, has a neck tattoo, and is in all of two scenes lol Also- not related to First anymore but- the characters are all nicely color-coded 🌈

Currently craving

Sleep 🤓 No but for real, jetlag is a bitch and it always only hits me after traveling back west which, like- usually people find it to be worse when traveling east so what the fuck is up with my inner clock hm????

No pressure tags: @zimmbzon @thegalwhorants @twig-tea @rocketturtle4 @sunshinechay @khaostache @slayerkitty @bruisingknees @berestweys - if y'all've already played this tag, please do point me towards it 💕

[aurorawest]

Twenty Fanfic Writer Questions

Tagged by @lowkeyed1 - thank you and sorry it took me so long to do it!

Tagging @bereft-of-frogs, @rosieposiepuddingnpie, and @nostalgia-tblr

1. How many works do you have on Ao3?

An even 150!

2. What’s your total Ao3 word count?

2,230,050

3. What fandoms do you write for?

At this point my fanfiction output is pretty sparse, but in the last two years, I've written primarily MCU. I've also written for Captive Prince, Six of Crows, The Daevabad Trilogy, The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue, Some Desperate Glory, and The Watchmaker of Filigree Street. Over the years I've written in tons of fandoms.

4. What are your top five fics by kudos?

The Real Asgardians of the Galaxy (MCU, Loki & Thor)

The General Mess and Imprecision of Feeling (MCU, Loki/Stephen Strange)

Sleight of Hand (MCU, Loki & Stephen Strange)

You Come to Me Wild and Wired (MCU, unrelated ficlets, Loki/Stephen Strange)

They Change Their Sky, Not Their Soul, Who Rush Across the Sea (MCU, Loki & Thor)

The first three are all part of my 10 fic Loki series, it's not going to matter if we fall down twice.

5. Do you respond to comments?

Goddddd I've become so bad at it. I used to respond to every single one. One of my projects/goals is to go back and respond to people, but of course, my AO3 inbox is totally overwhelming at this point, and every time I see the number of comments I haven't responded to, I become paralyzed. I need to man up and just start chipping away.

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending? 

Do No Harm (MCU, Loki/Stephen Strange) and Anamnesis (Weyoun, Star Trek: Deep Space 9) are probably tied on this one.

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending? 

I primarily write happy endings so...most of them, haha. But I guess The General Mess and Imprecision of Feeling, since it's the HEA at the end of 10 fics. It's a seriously hard-won HEA haha.

8. Do you get hate on fics?

I have! I've been called a pedo on some Wreck-It Ralph fic (that was my introduction to purity culture, btw). Idk if I'd call this hate, but I once had a reader get pretty upset that an OFC in A Full and Factual Account of Asgard didn't turn out to be a love interest for Loki.

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

Sure do! Honestly writing smut might be my favorite thing to write, haha. Whenever I get to a Big Sex Scene in my original stuff, I sigh in relief that I'm finally going to have an easy writing night. I've written m/f and m/m, but I have way more m/m, and an occasional m/m/m. It's mostly sappy, vanilla, OTP stuff, but I love me some dub and noncon, so there are a few of those amidst the gooey soulmate smut.

10. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written?

Not really, though I did in my youth. Honestly they're...all kind of crazy. When I was in my early teens I wrote a 4 fic series that was a crossover between The Enchanted Forest Chronicles (the books by Patricia C Wrede), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (the Disney movie), and Newsies (the movie). It had time travel. And dragons, obviously. I also at one point was writing a crossover between Newsies (yes, I had a Newsies phase) and Doctor Mordrid, an obscure fantasy B-movie from the 90s starring Jeffrey Combs. Fun fact! It was actually supposed to be Dr. Strange, but they lost the rights before they made the movie.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Yep. It was a Harry Potter fic. I threatened legal action (lol) and they took it down.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

People have definitely asked me if they can translate my fics, so I think so!

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Yeah, I had a friend I wrote a Loki & Thor fic with. I also used to collab on fics with my sister when we were kids.

14. What’s your all-time favorite ship?

I guess it's gotta be Loki/Stephen Strange.

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

I have a DS9 fic about Eris, a Vorta who was only in one episode, where she's an agent who's infiltrated a rebel Vorta/Jem'Hadar cell. I LOVE that fic, but I just...don't see myself ever finishing it. Maybe someday I'll file the serial numbers off and turn it into an original work. It probably wouldn't be that hard because it's set hundreds of years before DS9 takes place, and I did a lot of original worldbuilding.

16. What are your writing strengths?

Dialogue, character, romance, sexual tension, pretty polished first drafts. I don't know if I'd consider it a strength yet, but I feel like I've really improved my pacing over the past year.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

Probably visual scene setting, haha. I'm pretty thin on describing what the physical location LOOKS like. I'm better at describing sounds and smells, because honestly that's what sticks with me personally from a place, not how it looks.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

I've definitely done it. I took many years of Spanish so I'm pretty confident that when I write in Spanish, it makes sense. I can tell when google translate is wrong, haha. One of my novels (coming out next year!) has some Afrikaans, and a South African sensitivity reader didn't say any of it was wrong. Though that reminds me, I really should message my friend/former safari guide to see if she has any complaints about the Afrikaans in it, haha.

IMO when you write dialogue in another language in a fic, you have to assume the reader doesn't speak that language, so you need to let them know what that dialogue says through context. I read a book recently where there was quite a bit of Quebecois French, and there were end notes with the translation, and...eh, it was a pain to flip back and forth to the end of the book.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

The first time I sat down with the intention of writing a story with a beginning, middle, and end (I didn't finish it), it was an Enchanted Forest Chronicles fic. This was before I'd ever heard of the internet, so I didn't even know that what I was doing was called fanfiction.

Though, my mom made me a scrapbook of a bunch of childhood stuff for my 40th birthday, and it included what I can only call a Lion King AU where the characters from The Lion King go to Camp Snoopy in the Mall of America. So idk, maybe that.

20. Favourite fic you’ve written? 

I think in some ways Anamnesis is the most ambitious single fic I've ever written, in that it's a difficult story. But I probably have to give the nod to it's not going to matter if we fall down twice. I'm totally cheating because it's a series, but I'm going to be really proud of it for my whole life so I'm going to take every opportunity to plug it, haha.

Thank you again for the tag!

[dangermousie]

Let's meet my favorite kdrama cursed prince - Muhyul as portrayed by Song Il Gook in The Kingdom of the Winds

Or more specifically, this very long-ass post is my attempt to convince people to watch this ridiculously underrated 2008 sageuk.

Why? Is it politics? Complicated families, cursed destinies, battles, or more hurt/comfort than you can want? Nope, none of these. I have my priorities straight and it's official. Muhyul/Yeon is one of my favorite period OTPs.

Take one Cursed Prince (who does not know he is one, and is brought up as a slave), add in one capable Enemy Princess who saves his life, add in ninjas (yes I know ninjas are Japanese but I have no idea what the Korean equivalent term is and I am too lazy to type in secret assassins every time), poisonings, intrigues, and a lot of hurt/comfort and we are set!

Once upon a time, there lived a man named Muhyul. He was only a slave but what he did not know was that he was actually a Prince who was given away by his family at birth because he was cursed to kill his whole family, people he loved, and to top it off, to destroy his country. Despite it all, he was still super-hot.

In the enemy nation of Buyeo, there lived a Princess named Yeon, who was ladylike, kind, a skilled healer....also a deadly ninja.

Point 1: Heal captured slaves from torture. One day they might be the Crown Prince.

Muhyul first sees Yeon after he has been horrendously tortured by Buyeo troops. He opens his eyes to see a heavenly vision quite competently stitching him up, so to speak. It is love at first sight for Muhyul. And who could blame him. He knows that with the director's troubling penchant for h/c, he will need a hottie healer around.

Point 2: "Heal a hottie and he is yours for life"

Muhyul spends some free time drawing her portrait. Without knowing who she is or if he will see her again. If the whole slave/assassin/king thing doesn't work out, he can always make money as an artist.

Point 3: "It's not stalking when he's hot!"

Muhyul is on an undercover mission in the enemy country but he forgets everything when he sees Yeon walking by (btw, he assumes she is just a commoner doctor). I love how he sort of stops thinking of anything else at all.

And then he thinks of her at night...

And lo and behond, their paths cross again when she heals a slave in the house he is staying in.

And he introduces himself to her and she is totally mesmerized. Who can blame her, it's freaking Song Il Gook!

And "rescues" her from evil Byueo soldiers. Only, oooops, they were sent by her family as escort and she is piiiiiiiiissed!

"Why did she slap me, whyyyyyy?"

Still, be happy, boy! Despite it all, she bailed you out of jail for assaulting the Royal Guards :)

Awwww, Muhyul doesn't want to leave...

Point 4: You know what makes anything better? Torture and homicidal angst

Did I mention the part where Yeon's Dad runs an Evil Assassin camp where they experiment on slaves with poisons and torture them? You see where this is going? If you do, then you have the mindset of both the writer of this drama and myself.

Muhyul gets captured by them (after losing the only person he ever regarded as family, but that would drag us into plot and this post is about the shippy):

And tortured for a solid year. If he ever marries Yeon, that might make for an awkward family Thanksgiving. "So, how are you, son?" "Well, I almost regained the use of my arms!"

Anyway, Yeon is visiting Daddy and sees some slave being taken out, after they have tried poisons on him. It's Muhyul, so it's Yeon to the rescue! Man, no wonder he loves her - it's self-preservation on his part!

(this shot here is for troubling reasons)

And then Muhyul is drafted by evil assassins (long plotty reason) with the only alternative more torture. The training is psychotic and gets Muhyul near-broken utterly but as a side benefit, makes him even more hot. If now mildly psychotic. As you can probably figure out by the end of the drama he's so hot he's a supernova

Also, as I posted earlier, gorgeous armored men on their knees looking up at their OTP who is teaching them foreign language (because Yeon is an Evil Assassin trainer for daddy) and thinking of the fact that they are a slave and she is a Princess (which is something he found out only in the ninja camp) is pretty high on the list of my favorite things.

Plus, Yeon takes him out for fresh air and exercise that doesn't involve being hung upside down and being ordered to off oneself. Score! She even makes him smile.

This is hitting the cap limit for continuing in part 2 shortly...

ETA: part 2 here:

(99+) Musings of the Obsessive Kind on Tumblr

And part 3:

(99+) Musings of the Obsessive Kind on Tumblr

[cactusspatz]

May recs

Family Photos by KelpieCodyne (DCU, gen)

“I thought you quit your photo stalking?” “In my defence, I never said I was quitting, and you never asked if I would,” Tim immediately counters. “So really, this is kind of on you.” Just because Tim became a bat, doesn’t mean he stopped taking photos of bats. Several times Tim took photos of the batfamily, and one time they took photos of him.

This delightful fic features my OTPs of Tim/the batfam, Tim/photography, and Tim/being a little weirdo.

In Service by @smilebackwards (DCU, gen)

Tim rings the doorbell of Wayne Manor for the third time in as many days, and for the third time, Mr. Pennyworth opens the heavy oak door. He looks tired and careworn and Tim knows for certain that he’s choosing the right thing now. Mr. Wayne isn’t going to let him anywhere near the Robin suit, but maybe Tim doesn’t need it. There’s another tack he can try. Or: When Bruce refuses to accept Tim as the new Robin, Tim takes the next best option. He apprentices to Alfred.

Such a clever premise, and a sweet execution!

To Preserve the Life of Others by romantic_drift (Nirvana in Fire, gen)

Lin Jingyi has always been a doctor. "Her heart stutters. She thinks for one wild second of just breaking into a mad dash, running out of this accursed palace, Jinling, Da Liang itself. She is insignificant, an orphan, a wandering doctor. They would never chase after her, surely. But there is her family."

Consort Jing's backstory is only glancingly described on the show, and this fic does a brilliant job of putting all the odd fragments together into a complex whole with great characterization.

Zeitnot by decayaslife / @the-ronan-cycle (Captive Prince, Laurent/Damen)

"Zeitnot (chess): German for time trouble. Zeitnot occurs when a player needs to play several moves in a very short period of time in order to reach the time control defined for the game." When twenty-three-year-old Laurent wakes up on the morning of the Battle of Marlas in his adolescent body, he has to figure out how to keep Auguste and Damianos alive through the end of the day.

Ooh, very fun and well done time-travel fix-it.

Su She Eats his Heart Out by @KizuKatana (Untamed/MDZS, Wangxian)

The (bitter) third party pov of the epic college romance between Wei Ying and Lan Zhan, as told from the pettiest NPC to ever exist.

Extremely funny use of an unreliable narrator, and the sequel/companion from Lan Wangji's POV is hilariously horny and smitten - so very in character!

[khoicesbyk]

The Royal Romance.

Forevermore.

A/N: this is the next chapter in the journey of my OTP. Follow along for the fun.

Rated: Mature (at times can and will be Explicit. I'll be sure to change the rating when and if that happens). | Contains sexual content and strong language. (You know? The usual. Y'all should be used to this from me by now 😁) | Bolded and/or italicized words are conversations and thoughts of the characters. | Main Characters: King Marquise Rys (LI) and Queen Shanelle Miller-Rys (MC) | All Characters and names: (except MC and original characters created by me and/or other authors [their characters have been mentioned and/or used in the story with their permission] ) are property of Pixelberry.

Current Word Count: 8,600 words. (may be slightly more or may be slightly less. Look, I stop counting after editing and re-editing and driving myself insane. 🤷🏾‍♀️)

If you’d like to be added to my tag list. Just reblog or DM me and I will gladly add you! 😁😘

This series is rated Mature and/or Explicit. It is NOT reading material that is safe for those under 18. Reader discretion is STRONGLY advised!

Missing a chapter or want to read a chapter again? I got you covered! Click ——> Here!

Tag List: @choicesficwriterscreations

Sorry this is wayyyyy late! I thought I had uploaded it last month. Oh well! 🤦🏾‍♀️🤷🏾‍♀️

Chapter 5.) Joy Of Winter.

It's December in Cordonia. And many in the kingdom were abuzz for the annual Cordonia Winter Festival. It has become somewhat of a national pride and many were ready to celebrate. None more than Marquise. He loves the event and the fact that it has become his wife's newest pastime brings him joy. 

December wasn't just the month of the Winter Festival. It was also the month of his graduation. He was to finally graduate with a Doctorate in Psychology. He was excited and couldn't wait to go to Boston. But first, before he could celebrate he had business to attend to. 

It was a few weeks removed since his mother-in-law had gotten into a physical altercation with Countess Alicia. With many of the nobles beginning to take Lady Alicia's side and wanting Shantel to be removed from her post. But Marquise knew better. And after the security footage of the fight was released, he had both ladies meet him in his office to discuss and remedy the issue. 

"Good morning to you both. Thank you for joining me. Please have a seat." he said to them both. 

"Thank you for having us, Your Majesty," Shantel replied. 

"Yes. Thank you." Alicia agreed. 

"You're both very welcome. Now that you both are here, we can get down to business. Apparently, you two have an issue that needs to be resolved. Now."

Alicia huffed. 

"There wouldn't be an issue, Your Majesty, if someone here had remembered her place." 

Shantel rolled her eyes. 

"If by 'remembered her place' you mean that I should've remembered that I am a Duchess and you're not, then yes you're right I should have, and by doing so I should've had you thrown out of the palace."

"You have no authority there!" Alicia sneered. 

"No, I don't. But my husband, perhaps you know him, his name is Prince Damien Miller, he does. And so does my daughter. The Queen. After all, it is HER palace. Not yours. And certainly not your step-sister's." Shantel shot back. 

"Your husband is a coward and idiot!" Alicia seethed. 

"If by that you mean he chose better and by that I mean he chose me and not a bottom feeder like you. Then yeah you're so right he is."

Alicia's face contorted with disgust. 

"Why you no good god awful Jezebel!" Alicia snapped at Shantel. 

"You're still mad that he didn't want you then and still doesn't want you now!" Shantel spat back at her. 

"Why you–" Alicia started to say before Marquise cut her off, "That is enough! Have some decorum! You're both grandmothers for God's sake."

Shantel raised an eyebrow. 

"You know what? You're right, Your Majesty. We should know better. Especially me. After all, my sweet granddaughter is the Crown Heir. I have an example to set for her. I wouldn't want her to see me act like this." 

Alicia scoffed. 

"This is why you are not and never will be worthy of your so-called title and station as Duchess. You think because you slept with Damien that you belong among us. You are nothing but a commoner. A low-brow American commoner at that."

"Correction: you slept with him. And according to him, you were never really that good. Unlike you, I married him. I love him. Something you have always been incapable of doing."

"Ladies!" Marquise warned. 

"I don't even know why I'm even here. We both know you'll do nothing but side with this sad excuse of a noble." Alicia said to Marquise. 

Marquise took a deep breath and straightened his spine. 

"You're here because whether you like Shantel or not, whether you like the fact she is married to Damien or not, she is still an active member of The Royal Family. And you decided to put your hands on her. Knowing that it's against the law to do so." Marquise said to Alicia. 

"She started it!" Alicia protested. 

Shantel rolled her eyes. 

"Countess, with all due respect, I have seen the security footage and heard the accompanying audio as well. You antagonized her after she, my father-in-law, and Commander Devereaux were situated and settled into their rooms and when she snapped at you for your rudeness during dinner, you threw a drink in her face. Which ended quite badly for you." 

Alicia rolled her eyes and Marquise raised an eyebrow at her. 

"Did you just roll your eyes at me, Countess?" he asked. 

"Of course not. I'm not a heathen. Unlike some people." she replied while gesturing to Shantel. 

"I'm not so sure your actual husband, Earl Amos, would agree." Shantel shot back at her. 

"Ladies! Last. Chance." Marquise warned. 

The two women glared at each other but said nothing. 

"Now this issue between you two needs to be put to rest permanently. You are both nobles of very high society, given you both have close proximity to King Dominic and Shantel has close proximity to myself and my wife."

"So just what are you proposing, Your Majesty?" Alicia asked. 

"After speaking with both of your husbands I let them decide what the best course of action is to take," Marquise replies. 

"And what did they decide?" Shantel asks. 

"Your husbands decided that you two are going to work together."  Marquise replies. 

They were stunned. 

"What?!" Shantel asks. 

"Excuse me?!" Alicia asked. 

"Allow me to explain, because Shantel is the Education Minister, she needs a second in command. That's where you come in Alicia. Because as of this moment, per your husband's request, you are no longer Head Of Staff at the palace in Cloutier."

Alicia blinked. 

"What do you mean by his request?!" Alicia asks. 

"What I mean is Earl Amos requested you be fired from your position as Head Of Staff for embarrassing and potentially jeopardizing his house, social standing, and name. And I will honor his request. Effective immediately. Instead, you will serve as Shantel's second in command. Consider it fair and well...karmic punishment."

Their jaws dropped. 

"So you're saying that I have to work for that?!" Alicia asked, gesturing at Shantel who rolled her eyes. 

"Yes. This was the solution both men came up with and as King, I signed off on it." Marquise replied. 

"Unbelievable. I can not believe that no good coward would turn on me!"

Shantel shook her head. 

"Next time pick on someone who can't fight. You know, like your step-sister?" Shantel quipped. 

Marquise turned his attention to his mother-in-law. 

"As for you madam, you said it best. Your granddaughter is the Crown Heir. And it is up to you to set the greatest example for her. And as her father and your King, I expect you to act like it. Now as far as Alicia working for you is concerned, I expect you to be a fair leader. Is that clear?" Marquise asks. 

"Of course. She's not the first combative person I've dealt with in a workplace and she won't be the last."

Alicia scoffed. 

"This is humiliating! I shouldn't have to work with her!" 

"Not work with her Countess. Work under her. She is officially your boss. But as she has just assured me, she will be fair. And I expect that you will be compliant."

"And if I'm not? What then? You forget I'm protected by my brother-in-law." Alicia asked. 

"First of all, his detail does not extend to you. And hasn't extended to you since he lost power. And secondly, I could just forgo the solution and go with Damien's original idea," Marquise replies. 

"What idea?" Alicia asks. 

"That I strip you of your title and lands. That was Damien's original idea. The only reason he didn't push harder for it is because of your grandchildren. He as well as your husband didn't think it would be fair for them to have to lose what's rightfully theirs because you want to be a 60-going-5-year-old." Marquise replied. 

Shantel snickered quietly.

"It's no wonder why many of the nobles don't respect you, Your Majesty. You let worms like her get away with murder, while you punish their betters for no reason." Alicia sneered at him. 

"Oh, I definitely have a reason. It's called I'm the King and this is my kingdom! Now if you're that unhappy with how I rule and run things, you are free to live anywhere you'd like. Just know that it won't be here in Cordonia."

Alicia huffed. 

"Are we done?" Alicia asked. 

"Get out of my office!" Marquise hissed at her. 

Alicia got up and stormed out. Slamming his office door. 

"Well, that was fun," Shantel said. 

Marquise raised an eyebrow at her, causing her to shake her head. 

"I'll be fine, son."

"I know. But I meant it when I told her that you would be fair. Do not make me look like a liar."

"I would never do that to you. You know this. I know how hard you work to balance everything." 

"Good."

"You know she's going to run and tell the first noble she comes across that you have been unfair to her right?" Shantel asked. 

"I'm betting on it. But I've been in power long enough to know how to deal with these wealthy idiots." he replies. 

"What if she tries to gather enough support to oust you and my daughter?" she asks. 

"Unless she can somehow convince the 5 heads of the Great Houses of Cordonia to support her cause, I doubt it. Also, Countess Madeleine, Duchess Kiara, Duke Bertrand, Duchess Olivia, and Duke Landon pledged their support to the crown when Khari was born and reaffirmed that pledge when my boys were born."

"Madeleine took over for her mother?" Shantel asks. 

"Mmhmm. Duchess Adelaide has kidney cancer on top of having Cirrhosis." Marquise replied. 

"Oh my God!" Shantel said with a gasp. 

"Her health struggles haven't been made public yet, but due to her rapidly declining health, she quietly passed the duties as Head Of House over to her daughter when the boys were six months old." 

"Is it terminal?" Shantel asks. 

"That I don't know. I do know that Adelaide is on the donor list. I also don't know how high up the list she is." Marquise replies. 

"Does my daughter know?" 

"Yes. We went to see the Duchess a few weeks ago."

"How can Madeleine be Head Of House if her mother is still a Duchess?"

"Her health. If a Head Of House ever falls gravely ill, they can pass their duties on to their heir. Maddy won't officially be Duchess of Fydelia until her mother officially passes."

Shantel nodded. 

Just then there was a loud commotion outside of Marquise's office door. 

"What in the world?" Shantel asks. 

That's when Earl Amos Barbaroux came in with Countess Alicia hot on his heels. 

"May I help you?" Marquise asked. 

"Yes, yes you can. You can tell my so-called husband that the deal he made with Damien is off!" 

The Earl rolled his eyes. 

"Please my King, I apologize for intruding into your office. But my wife is being unreasonable."

Alicia whirled around on him. 

"Unreasonable?! You are trying to dehumanize me by forcing me to work for someone who is way beneath my station!" Alicia yelled at her husband. 

"You don't have a station!" he yelled back at her. "I have a station!"

Shantel and Marquise looked at each other as Earl Amos took a deep breath. 

"If it wasn't for me, you'd still be the same noble whore, that your parents passed around, family to family, until they found mine, specifically they found my father, and begged him to match us together!" 

This left the King and his mother-in-law speechless. 

"You—" Alicia started to say before her husband cut her off, "I have had to put up with you and your constant disrespect and condescendence for decades. And now is when I put my foot down!" 

"Enough! Whatever the issue is or issues are between you two, will not and can not be solved by you two having a shouting match in my office. So if you two don't mind." Marquise said to both of them while gesturing to his office door, "Thank you."

Earl Amos nodded. 

"Yes, you're right Your Majesty. I apologize for my behavior towards you and Duchess Shantel." he replied to Marquise before addressing Shantel, " and speaking of you Duchess, I would also like to extend my sincerest apologies for my wife and her unbecoming and unscrupulous behavior towards you all these years. I have never been more ashamed or embarrassed."

Shantel nodded. 

"Thank you for your apology, Sir."

Earl Amos gave her a small smile and nod before turning his attention back to his wife. 

"His Majesty asked us both to leave his office. So let's go," he said calmly to her. 

Alicia crossed her arms as she glared at him. 

"I am not going anywhere with you! You no good traitor!" Alicia sneered at her husband. 

"Well, you're certainly not going to be staying in my office all day so you and Earl Amos can both take your leave."

Alica scoffed at Marquise. 

"Countess, I will NOT repeat myself," Marquise warned her. 

Alicia huffed and began to turn on her heel. But not before saying one last thing to her husband. 

"I should've had Edward kill you when I had the chance!"

The Earl scoffed.

"Well, now you can't. And until our youngest three children have finished their studies and are off to university, I am stuck living with a shrew of a wife better known as you."

Alicia stood there with her mouth open as she watched her husband walk out. Then followed behind him not too long after. 

"Well that was certainly eventful," Shantel said to Marquise. 

Marquise only shook his head. 

"Too eventful."

"What happened to them?" Shantel asks, "From all I ever heard he's been nothing but good to her." 

"He has. But she's never been any good to him."

"But why? What has he done that she hates him so much?"

Marquise looked at his door for a moment.

"Off the record? The three youngest children he mentioned...aren't biologically his."

"What?!" Shantel asked. 

"Their biological father was a man Alicia had been having an affair with for years. He worked on her and Amos's estate staff. And rather than risk the scandal of divorce, he's raised them as his own." Marquise replies. 

"Do you think their children know he's not their biological father?" Shantel asked. 

"I doubt it. I don't think he wants them to know."

Shantel nodded. 

"I can understand why. It would break his heart. Where is their biological father?"

Marquise exhaled slowly. 

"You don't know this but your brother-in-law had him executed when the man threatened to go public about his and Alicia's affair."

"You're joking!"

Marquise shook his head no. 

"Nope. And Edward made sure to have this man erased from all public records. And he even told Amos that he was to raise the children as his own until they became of age."

"Edward, had every trace of him erased?"

"Yes. You forget he had A LOT of unchecked power then. No one would have been stupid enough to question him. It took me a while but I did find the man's name."

"What was it?"

"His name was Yohan. But that's all I have been able to recover about him."

"Surely the man had a family."

Marquise exhaled slowly. 

"If he did, they were silenced by either execution or exile."

Shantel shook her head. 

"So is that all nobles do? Cheat on each other and drink themselves to death?" she asked. 

"No. They also brag about their insane wealth and power while thinking it rivals mine."

"And we both know your power is unmatched."

"Exactly. So now that all that ugliness is over, how about I treat you to lunch?" Marquise asked.

"I would love to have lunch with you son-in-love." 

"Perfect!" 

Later that night Marquise had caught Shanelle up on his very colorful morning. 

"Alicia was cheating on Earl Amos?" 

"Yes. For years. And she was able to get away with it."

"How?"

"She knew he could never challenge her because all she had to do was run to either Edward or Genevieve and she'd be safe. So he knew it was safer to keep quiet."

"Yikes!"

"Yeah." 

Shanelle took a sip of her wine. 

"Now are you sure this Alicia woman working under my mom is a good idea?" 

"Absolutely. I trust your mother, I especially trust in her judgment. I also trust that Alicia will remember that she has more to lose than gain if she defies the decision that was reached."

Shanelle nodded. 

"Now onto more exciting things. Like your graduation next week."

Marquise snickered. 

"I am so excited. I can't wait."

"Same! We've been waiting for it and now it's here. How do you really feel?" she asked. 

"Honestly, I'm relieved. It's been a long journey. But it's been worth it. And now by this time next week, I will have my degree in my hands. And then we and the kingdom will celebrate our favorite kingdom pastime."

"I know I'm so excited. I love seeing the palace and the orchard all decorated. And it'll be the first Winter Festival that the boys will be able to participate in."

"They were at the one last year."

"They were with Nina all day. She kidnapped our boys."

"Not that you minded my Queen."

"True."

"But you're right. They will have a blast."

"And of course, there's my favorite: the annual snowball fight."

Marquise raised an eyebrow at his wife. 

"What do you have planned for this year, my love?"

"Battle of the sexes!" 

"You mean I get to throw a snowball at you?"

"No. It means you will finally be dethroned as the defending snowball fight champion."

Marquise snickered. 

"May the best team win my Goddess."

"I know I will."

Marquise rolled his eyes good-naturedly. 

Over the next few days, the couple spent time together before His Majesty had to get ready for his solo trip to the States. While he was excited to go, his children weren't. They had never been away from their dad for that long. So the Princess came up with a great idea for her and her brothers. They would go with him without him knowing. She pulled out one of her Daddy's biggest suitcases and did her checklist. 

"Okay, boys! We have our snacks, our juice, and our chocolate milk! Now do you have your blankies?" Khari asked her brothers. Both boys held up their blankies. 

"And you have your touchdown bears?"

The boys held up their bears. 

"Alright! Let's hop in!"

All three climbed into the suitcase and shut it. 

"Okay, boys! We gotta be quiet so Daddy doesn't know! So shhh!" she whispered to her giggling brothers. Who tried their hardest to quiet down so they wouldn't get caught. Sadly they were caught when their parents couldn't find them and looked all over the palace for them. But they discovered the suitcase they were hiding in. 

"Babe?" Shanelle asked over her shoulder. 

"Yeah?" Marquise replied. 

"Is this one of your suitcases?" 

Marquise looked at it.

"Yeah, but I never packed this one." 

"Then why is it closed?"

Marquise went to open it when he heard familiar giggling. He shook his head and started to chuckle. 

"What's so funny?"  Shanelle asked. 

"I just figured out why we haven't been able to find the children."

"What do you mean?"

"Take a listen."

Shanelle leaned in and heard the same giggling. 

"No, they didn't."

"Yes, they did."

Shanelle shook her head with a smile. 

"Let's play along."

Shanelle nodded. 

"There's my suitcase! I've been looking all over for it!"

"Good, I'm glad you found it. Now you and my dad can go on your trip."

"Yup now let me just zip it up."

The giggling intensified when he zipped up the suitcase. 

"Say, my love, have you seen the children?" he asks. 

"No, I can't say that I have," she replied.

"Oh well! I'm sure we'll see them before I leave."

Marquise picked up the suitcase and carried it down with the children giggling inside and him and Shanelle snickering the whole time. When they got to the main hall where Shanelle's parents were waiting they heard the giggling. 

"What in the world is going on?" Damien asks. 

Shanelle told them and asked them to play along. 

"Well, Your Highness. I believe we're ready to leave." Marquise said to Damien. 

"Yes, my King. It seems that we are ready. It's just I haven't seen the kids. Shantel and I looked everywhere for them."

"Y'know that's funny! Their mother and I were just saying the same thing." 

"Where could those kids be?" Shantel asked. 

Shanelle just shook her head laughing softly. That's when Margo walked up. 

"Are you ready to leave my King?" she asked Marquise. 

"Yes. We will be leaving shortly. Do me a favor. Take a listen to the suitcase."

Margo took a listen and heard her grandchildren giggling. 

"Why are they in the suitcase?" Margo asked. 

"Because apparently, they think they're going with me. So we're playing along." Marquise whispered. 

Margo nodded. 

"Mama, since you're here have you seen the children?" Marquise asked. 

"No, I haven't. I thought they were with you and their mother." Margo replies. 

"No. No one has seen them. Damien and I can't leave without saying goodbye to them. Oh well! Let me take my suitcase and Damien and I can take our leave." 

"That's an unusually large suitcase, my son. What do you have in it?" Margo asked. 

"You know I don't remember what I packed in it. Let me check." 

Marquise opened the suitcase and there were his children and their giggling. 

"There you are! What are the three of you doing in my suitcase?" Marquise asks. 

"We don't want you to leave so we're going with you Daddy," Khari replied. 

His heart exploded as he helped them out of the suitcase and sat down with them. 

"My love you know you and your brothers can't go with me."

"But!" Khari pouted.

Marquise put a gentle finger to her lips. 

"My love. I love you and I love Zyon and I love Kylo. But you three are too young to go with me."

"But we don't want you to go Daddy."

"I know you don't. I won't be gone long."

He hated seeing the looks on their little faces. 

"I'll see you three Thursday."

"It's not the same Daddy," Khari said, shaking her head sadly. 

"Dada..." Zyon whined. 

Marquise took a deep breath. 

"If it's one thing you three know how to do perfectly, it's tugging at Daddy's heartstrings."

He gathered the three of him in his arms.

"I love you. I love each of you. I don't like to leave you but sometimes Daddy has to. But I promise I  will never ever be gone for very long."

Marquise looked at his children and smiled before clearing his throat and singing softly. 

"Come now my sweet babies please don't cry. Let's wipe those tears from your eyes. Let's see those smiles so they brighten up the day. Always remember no matter what, Daddy is never too far away."

He held his children close before Kylo looked up at him then went and grabbed his blankie. 

"Blankie!" he said as he held it up to his father. 

"You want me to take it with me?" Marquise asked. 

Kylo's only answer was a smile. 

"Thank you, my love. I will take great care of it."

Zyon followed suit by giving his father his touchdown bear. 

"My! I'm being spoiled today. Thank you."

He held his two boys close to his chest. 

"My two sweet loves. I love you both more than I could ever tell you. I will see you both soon. I won't be gone for long."

He kissed them both on their foreheads before sending them to their mother and turning his attention to his daughter. 

"Come here, my love."

Khari stood in front of her father with a sad look on her face. 

"Are you mad at me Daddy?" she asked. 

"Never. You are allowed to feel whatever it is you feel. I could never fault you for that." he replied. 

"So I'm not in trouble?" 

"No. You and your brothers kinda gave yourselves away when you first started giggling. We couldn't help but play along." 

"You knew that we were in the suitcase the whole time?"

"Yes, my sweet one. We did. Your mother and I couldn't help but play along."

"Oh..." Khari said dejectedly. 

Marquise tilted his head before gently tilting her chin up. 

"You have no idea how much I adore you. I adore the way you love your little brothers. I know why you feel the way you do. I used to feel that way whenever my mother had to leave for a short period."

"Really?" she asked. 

"Yes. When I was 8 years old, Mother had to go on a leaders fellowship to Namibia for three months and I missed her terribly. Every day I would ask everyone on her staff when she was coming back." 

"You did?" Khari asks. 

"Ohh yes. Every single day until your grandmother returned." Margo replied. 

Khari giggled. 

"My point is I know what it feels like. I know you don't want me to go but I have to. It will only be for a few days."

Khari looked down at the ground. He pulled her close to him. 

"Do you know what happens next Saturday?" he asked her. 

"Your graduation?" she replies. 

"Yes. Do you know why I'm excited about it?"

"Because you worked really hard for it?" 

"Yes. But that's not why I'm excited about it."

"Then why Daddy?"

"Because you and your brothers will be walking across the stage with me when I get my degree."

Khari perked up.

"We will?" 

"Yes. I asked if it would be okay and the committee I spoke to agreed." 

Khari nodded. 

"Look at me, my love."

Khari looked up at her dad.

"I will only be gone for a few days. I know you're sad but we'll be together again on Thursday."

"You promise Daddy?"

"I swear it on my heart, my life, and my soul. I will never be away from your side for too long." 

Khari chewed her bottom lip and then nodded. 

"Okay."

Marquise wrapped his daughter in a loving hug as he stood up. 

"I love you, I adore you. My sweet beautiful Princess."

Khari gave him a big kiss on the cheek. 

"I love you too Daddy. I'm sorry we tried to trick you."

"No need to apologize, my love. Now go to your mother. Okay?"

Khari nodded. 

"I will call you and your brothers tonight okay?"

"Pinky promise?" she asked, holding up her pinky. 

"Pinky promise," he replied, hooking his pinky to hers.

With a soft kiss on her forehead from her father Khari was at her mother's side. Marquise stood up and looked to his father-in-law.

"Your Highness, NOW we can leave."

"Of course," Damien replied with a small chuckle. 

With final goodbyes to their loved ones. Marquise and Damien were soon on their way to the airstrip. Once in the air Marquise silently became curious about his children's plan to go with him. 

"Something on your mind son?" Damien asked. 

"Just wondering where Khari got the idea to pack herself and the boys in a suitcase," Marquise replies. 

Damien chuckled. 

"From me. It's an old story that I told her when she asked me if her mother had ever gotten into big trouble as a child."

"What do you mean?" Marquise asked. 

"Shanelle was 4 years old when she didn't want me to leave on a trip home. So she packed herself into my suitcase and fell asleep." 

Marquise snorted. 

"And I nearly missed my flight because Shantel and I couldn't find her." Damien replied. 

Marquise nodded with a smile. 

"I guess she thought she'd succeed where her mother failed." Damien quipped. 

"She would have if she and the boys weren't giggling so much."

Damien simply nodded with a smile. 

His Majesty and Prince Damien's US trip began when they touched down in Tennessee. There they were taken across the state line into Kentucky, where they visited His Majesty's Bourbon Distillery. They toured the facility and even got to taste the special holiday blend. As well as touring the four adjacent horse farms. That's where His Majesty got the idea for the name of the distillery. Terre de Chevaux. Which means Land Of Horses.  

That night he called to check in with his children. 

"Hello, my little ones! I miss you so much."

"We miss you too Daddy. How is your trip?" Khari asked while holding the phone so her brothers could see. 

"It's been fun. I toured the distillery and the horse farms around it and do you know what I found out?" Marquise replied. 

Khari shook her head no.

"I met some of the horses. And I learned their names."

"What are their names?" 

"One is named Esther after my grandmother. Another is named Victor after my uncle. And the last one is named Ellie."

"Like Grandmother?"

"Exactly my love."

"Wow! Will we get to meet them, Daddy?"

"I hope so."

"Where do you go next Daddy?"

"I will go to the capitol in Washington D.C. tomorrow, where I will get to speak to Congress, and then your grandfather and I will be in Boston. Where I will see you three Thursday."

"We can't wait! Right boys?" Khari asked her brothers who were trying to take the phone from her. 

"It's time for bed my loves."

"Okay, Daddy. We'll talk to you tomorrow."

"I love you all. So much."

"We love you too! Right boys?"

Later after putting their children to bed, Shanelle had a quiet conversation with her husband. 

"Finally! They're all down for the count."

Marquise snickered. 

"I miss you. You know that right?"

"Yeah, I know. I miss you too, handsome. But like you told the kids we'll see each other Thursday."

"Indeed we will. It's amazing that we've been to Boston twice in one year."

"I know you should go play the numbers while you're in the States." 

Marquise snorted. 

"Yeah sure I will."

Shanelle let out a small yawn that she failed to hide. 

"Go to bed, my Queen. I'll text you in the morning."

"Alright. Goodnight Handsome."

"Goodnight my Goddess."

"I love you."

"I love you too Shanelle."

After blowing her husband a small kiss, Shanelle went to bed. The next morning, His Majesty touched down in Washington D.C. to re-sign the Cordon-America Act of 1985. After signing the act Marquise got the chance to speak to Congress. Something he only ever dreamed about. 

"Good Morning everyone! My what a dream come true this is for me. I actually get to speak to Congress as a whole. If only my Poli Sci professor could see me now."

In his nearly 45-minute speech, Marquise highlighted the importance of the act and the continuation of the shared goal between his kingdom and America. A free, safe, and fair world for all to live in. After his speech, he and Damien toured The Library Of Congress, where he saw the original Declaration of Independence. Once the tour ended, they traveled to the Maryland National Cemetery so Damien could lay flowers at his in-law's graves. 

"I haven't been here in a few years. It's good to see them." Damien said as he laid the flowers on each grave. 

"Thank you for bringing me here. Shanelle talks about them all the time. Especially your former mother-in-law."

Damien snickered. 

"Yes. Mom is where Shanelle gets her personality from. That Jamaican fire runs through my daughter's veins."

"And mine," Marquise added. 

The two shared a chuckle. After a short flight that evening, His Majesty found himself back home in Boston and getting ready for his graduation. The next day, his wife, children, mother, and mother-in-law arrived from Cordonia. And he couldn't wait to hold his babies again. 

"I've missed you three so much," he said as he hugged them. 

"We've missed you too Daddy! How has your trip been?" Khari asks. 

"It's been good but it's better now that you three are here. And just like I promised you, we're together again. And you and your brothers can explore the house." Marquise replied as he led his family into the living room. "But before that, I believe I have a few items to return."

He pulled out Kylo's blanket and Zyon's bear. 

"I believe that these belong to the two of you."

Later that night after a big dinner and getting his children off to sleep. His Majesty went to check on his mother who was just settling into her bed. 

"Are you alright Mama?"

"Yes, my love. I'm fine. I am perfectly happy."

"Happy eh?"

"Yes of course my son. By this time Saturday, you'll have your Doctorate in hand. And will be able to display it in your office back home."

Marquise chuckled. 

"It means the world that you're here with me."

"It means the world to be here. To represent our kingdom and our family."

"It's funny. I look around this room and I can't help but miss Papa. I wish he could be here."

Margo took his hands in hers and looked at him with a warm smile. 

"I know you do, my son. The last time I was here was with him when you earned your bachelor's degree. He would be thrilled to see you earn your Ph.D. As a matter of fact, the whole flight he would've had the children in stitches and excited about your graduation. But it's just Papa that you miss is it?"

Marquise took a deep breath. 

"No. My heart aches for her. I miss her. I wish she could be here as well."

"She is here my love. She's so incredibly proud of the man you have become. She would be filled with such pride at all you have accomplished in your life. And so would Papa. They look down from heaven with smiles as bright as the sun and as wide as a Cheshire Cat."

Marquise shook his head with a smile before kissing her forehead softly. 

"Thank you, Mama. You always know what I need."

She kissed his cheek. 

"I'm your mother. I will always know what you need."

"Get your rest, Mama. I'll see you in the morning."

Margo smiled at him as he left the room and returned to the master bedroom where his wife was. He climbed into bed with her and wrapped himself around her. 

"My big ass baby."

"I've missed you."

"I've missed you too but you are way too heavy. Now get off of me."

Tried as she might, but Shanelle could not get him off of her. 

"Marquise...I...can't...breathe! Get off me!"

He finally let her go.

"Big ass creep!" she said as she caught her breath. 

"Your big ass creep. Thank you."

"Yeah, yeah." 

She snuggled into him. 

"How are you feeling?" she asks. 

"Relieved. It'll all be over soon. All the hours of study and presentation and research will have all paid off."

"Mmmhmm. And soon you will officially be a Doctor and a King."

Marquise snorted. 

"Very funny."

"You love me."

"Indeed I do. I will say I can't wait to see our children walk the stage with me."

Shanelle shook her head with a smile. 

"Their little cap and gowns came the day after you left. So Khari has been teaching the boys how to walk the stage."

"Please tell me you got it on video."

Shanelle handed him her phone. 

"See for yourself, Your Majesty."

Marquise watched as his daughter tried to teach her brothers how to walk a graduation stage in hilarious fashion. 

"Well...she tried."

"Yup. They are cute though."

"Very," he said with a small smile. 

As he lay in bed with his wife, Marquise became contemplative. 

"Penny for your thoughts?" she asks. 

"My thoughts are worth more than all the literal gold in our vault. But since it's you, sure," he replied. 

"What's really on your mind? Is it your mother?" she asks. 

Marquise sighed. 

"Yes. I can't help but wish she was here. I can't help but want her to be here. I want to see her celebrate with you, Margo, and your parents. And I want to see her standing behind our children. Cheering them on." he paused to clear his throat, "You would think that after 26 years my heart would have healed itself by now. But it hasn't. That void in my heart is still there. That need to see her, to be around her, to be able to hold her hand or hug her is still there. I just hope to God that I've made her proud."

"I know it is. And I know in my heart that you have made her proud. Everything that you've accomplished in and with your life has made her proud. This is just another accolade to add to the list of things that she's proud of you for." 

He kissed her forehead softly. 

"Thank you, my love."

"It's what I'm here for."

He smiled at her as he held her close. 

That Saturday was the big day for His Majesty. After getting dressed himself, he hilariously got his children dressed in their caps and gowns. With both boys being so enamored with their caps. Once everyone was ready it was time to head to the university. Once they arrived Marquise took a very deep breath for this was it. Everything he'd worked for had led up to this very moment. And it was a moment that didn't disappoint.

He finally got to do the one thing he had been dying to do. Walk the graduation stage. But what made it even more special was his children walking with him. He was proud as they stole the show. Afterward, he found himself in his mother's arms. 

"I am so proud of you, my love. So proud! You've done it, my boy! You've really done it!" Margo said proudly. 

"Thank you. I'm still in shock but I am so thankful to have you here. By my side, to celebrate with me."

"My love, there is nowhere on this earth that I'd rather be. I got to watch you achieve yet another one of your dreams."

Marquise closed his eyes and laid his forehead against hers. 

"Look at me, son."

He looked at her. 

"I wholeheartedly believe that Eleanor is jumping for joy right now. She is elated that her son is not only a King but he's also now a Doctor. You are her greatest dream come true. Her smile is as bright as the sky and as wide as a canyon. And so is Papa. You know he is in heaven just bragging about his boy doing it yet again. Telling every angel he comes across that his son has become a Doctor."

He pulled her close. 

"Thank you. For every single thing. I would not be where I am, I would not be the man I am, without you. Please don't ever forget that."

"I never have and I never will my son. Now go celebrate my love. Go on."

Later that night after hours of celebrating with his family. He spent time with the one he loves most, his wife. They were nestled together on the couch in the living room. 

"I'm so proud of you. You know that right?" she asks. 

He placed a sweet kiss on the palm of her left hand. 

"I know. You've been one of my biggest cheerleaders throughout all of this. When I wanted to stop or give up you told me to keep going. Or else you'd slug me." he replies. 

Shanelle snorted. 

"Mission accomplished." 

Shanelle took a look around the room. 

"Our story began right here. In this house. On this couch because someone's big ass pulled his hamstring racing a bunch of teenagers."

He punched her. 

"Ow!"

"That's what you get!"

"Jerk!" she hissed. 

"Chicken, shrimp, or goat?" he asked.  

"You're lucky I love you."

"I really am. Because at the time we got engaged, there was a part of me that feared you would've turned me down."

Shanelle took a deep breath. 

"Please don't hate me for this."

"For what?" he asked. 

"There was a part of me that wanted to tell you no. A HUGE part. I wanted to run away from you and not look back." she replied. 

"Why didn't you?" he asks. 

"Because I love you. That's why. I couldn't let you go even when my brain was screaming for me to do so. You showed me what true love is. You made a promise that you have never broken. You promised to love, protect, and nurture my heart and my love. And you have constantly and consistently kept that promise." she replies. 

"And I always will. If you don't believe anything else from me, you can believe that."

Shanelle smiled at him as they continued to enjoy a quiet moment together. Once back in Cordonia, planning for the Winter Festival kicked into high gear. Crews worked overtime making sure every detail was perfect and to Shanelle's exact specifications. All the while Marquise had plans of his own. 

With the palace being as big as it is, there is a lot of unused and mostly dead space on certain floors. So he decided to have three floors converted. One into a personal bowling alley. Another into a massive indoor ball pit and playground for his children. The final floor is the one he's most excited about, that floor will be an indoor laser tag arena. And it has to be tested out to make sure it's safe and ready for the barrage of kids and adults who will want to play. Because it will be open to his family and the staff and their families. 

That Friday before the Winter Festival, Their Majesties hosted their family, both immediate and extended at the palace residence. While the children were having a time running around playing, Marquise pulled Logan aside. 

"Come with me," Marquise said to Logan. 

"Where we going?" he asks. 

"It's a surprise. Trust me you'll like it." Marquise replied. 

"Nope! You know I don't like surprises unless I'm in on them. So where are we going?" Logan asks. 

"I'll show you when we get there," Marquise replied through clenched teeth. 

"Ohhhh...okay Uncle Scar."

"Shut up and move Simba."

Marquise led Logan to an elevator and used a keycard to enter. 

"Well, this is spooky..." 

"Get in the elevator Logan."

Logan shot him a suspicious look before he and Marquise got into the elevator. 

"Okay. I'm in the elevator. Now what?" Logan asks. 

"Now we go down to the basement," Marquise replied. 

"To your dungeon?" Logan asks. 

"No. That's on the other side of the palace. And you'd have no access to that. But this is something else." Marquise replies. 

They rode the elevator down and got off when it dinged. Once out of the elevator, they walked down a hall to a door with a keypad. 

"What's behind the door?" Logan asks. 

Rather than answer, Marquise smirked and then slid his keycard to open the door. When the door opened, Logan's jaw dropped. 

"Welcome to my newest toy."

"What is it?" Logan asked. 

"This is my brand new laser tag arena," Marquise replied. 

"Laser...tag...arena?!" 

"That's what I said."

"Dude! When the hell did you have time to do all of this?" Logan asks. 

"Construction started back in May. And was completed after the boy's birthday. But it's still not quite ready yet." Marquise replies. 

"What do you mean?" Logan asked. 

"It hasn't been tested...yet," Marquise replies. 

That's when Logan's grin widened. 

"And who's going to be brave enough to test it out, sire?"

"Why we are, my good man!" 

"Man! Let's go!"

The two suited up and spent a few hours laughing and having a good time in the arena. When they left both were buzzing. 

"That was amazing. Thank you for sharing it with me. Even though you cheated half the time."

Marquise snorted. 

"You're welcome. And thank you for coming. I'm glad you had a good time."

"I can't wait to tell my wife about it."

"As long as you don't tell the children. I want it to be a surprise for them."

"My lips are sealed, Your Highness."

When they got to the common area, their wives were enjoying a glass of wine.

"And just where have you two been the past few hours?" Shanelle asked them. 

"Out." They both reply. 

The wives looked at each other. 

"Uh-huh. You two went to check out Marquise's laser tag arena, didn't you?" Bronwyn asks. 

The men's jaws dropped. 

"How do you know?!" they asked. 

Bronwyn answered by pointing to Shanelle. 

"How do YOU know?!" they asked. 

Shanelle shrugged. 

"I might've accidentally stumbled upon the construction site one day."

"You mean you were being nosy?" Marquise asks. 

"It is my job to be," Shanelle replied. 

Marquise groaned. 

"Relax. Your kid doesn't know. I haven't told her."

Marquise visibly relaxed. 

"I can't keep nothing from you, can I?" Marquise asked. 

"Nope. Now move it, you two. We have a Winter Festival to get ready for tomorrow." Shanelle replied. 

The next day was the day of the Cordonian Winter Festival. All of Shanelle's hard work and planning had finally come to fruition. Many enjoyed a plethora of winter activities. Including snowmobiles. Which Marquise, Logan, Branden, and Brayden took full advantage of. 

"Alright, Brayden. We got a big job."

"What's that?" he asked. 

"We gotta beat your dad and brother in the race," Marquise replied. 

"Yeah yeah! Go super fast!"

"And do you know what we win when we win?" Marquise asked his nephew. 

"What uncle?" 

"Bragging rights my boy! Bragging rights!"

"Yay!" 

"So ready...set..."

"VRRRROOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMM!"

"And we're off!" 

While the dads and the boys enjoyed the snowmobiles, Shanelle took the girls ice skating out on the frozen pond. 

After riding around on snowmobiles it was time for the main event, the annual snowball fight. That both royals were determined to win. 

"Any last words before I take your title, Your Majesty?" Shanelle asked her husband. 

"Keep dreaming woman!" Marquise replied with a smirk. 

"I am so going to enjoy this!"

"You enjoy losing?...how very odd."

Once the trash talk was done, the whistle was blown and the fight was on. It was a battle of giggling proportions. With trying to take out one another. 

"Will you hold still?!" Shanelle shouted at her husband. 

"Why? So you can hit me?!" he replied. 

"Yes!"

"No!"

The snowball fight was epic and ended in a draw. Which was a delight to all who participated, watched, and cheered. Before the event was over His Majesty decided to try his hand at axe throwing with Sam and a very animatedly drunk Logan. 

"Uh, Logan?" Sam asks. 

"Yeah?" Logan replied. 

"How many of those have you had?" Marquise asked, pointing to the pint in Logan's hand. 

"Including this one?" he replied before downing the rest of the pint, "eight."

Sam and Marquise looked at each other. 

"You've had eight pints of Skullcracker Ale? Are you nuts? That stuff is powerful!" Marquise asked. 

"Yeah, I know. Who knew you Europeans could make a strong ale?" Logan replied before grabbing an ax, "Now let's really have some fun!" 

"Oh Dear God..." Marquise groaned.

"If he hits either one of us..." Sam warned. 

"Noted."

Sam and Marquise stood way back and watched Logan toss the axe and wildly miss his first target. 

"Missed it by an inch. Let me try again."

Logan tried again with Sam and Marquise looking on. 

"How long are you going to let this go on?" Sam asks. 

"Until either he runs out of steam or they run out of axes," Marquise replied. 

"Which one is more likely to happen?" Sam asks. 

"They run out of axes," Marquise replies. 

"So we're gonna be here a while?" Sam asks. 

"Yup so settle in my friend," Marquise replies. 

Later that night after the Winter Festival had concluded, His Majesty told his wife what had happened at the ax throwing booth.

"Logan had how many pints?" Shanelle asks.

"You heard me. He had eight pints of Skullcracker Ale." Marquise replied. 

"How did you let him drink that many pints?" 

"First of all, I didn't let him do anything. He was already halfway through his eighth one when I got there. And second, saying you're great friends with the King will get you anything in this kingdom. Including eight pints of Skullcracker Ale. Especially when the limit is four pints." 

Shanelle groaned. 

"That hangover is about to be epic."

"Oh yeah. He's gonna be feeling it for days. But thank goodness there's a hangover cure."

"I can only handle three pints of Skullcracker Ale. I don't know how Logan managed to drink eight of them."

"Because he has an iron liver?" 

Shanelle snorted. 

"That's for sure."

"And how are you, my love? What was the final tally?" he asks. 

"I'm good. I'm exhausted. Today was so much fun. And the money raised during the silent auction was enough to fund the Children's Fund. All in all, it was a great day. People had fun and that's all I care about. It's why I do this every year."

"I know and you do a brilliant job at this if I do say so myself."

"Careful Your Majesty. Your personal bias is showing."

"So? I'm allowed to brag about and celebrate my beautiful wife's accomplishments all I like. Thank you very much." 

"Fine. Just one question."

"Hmm?"

"What are we doing for Christmas?" she asks. 

"How about somewhere tropical?" he replies. 

"Works for me!" 

"I shall make our Christmas arrangements post haste." 

"Yay!"

Just then there was an urgent knock at their bedroom door. 

"Who in the world is that?" she asks. 

"I'll go find out," he replied. 

When he got up and answered the door, there was an attendant on the other side. 

"Yes?" he asked as he stepped outside. 

"Apologies for the disturbance this late Your Majesty but there is news out of Earl Amos's house." the attendant replies. 

"What is it?" he asked. 

"Earl Amos Barbaroux is dead." the attendant replied. 

"What?!"

"He was stabbed to death in his office." 

"What?! By who?" 

"Lady Alicia, sire. From what I have been told they got into an argument and she stabbed him in the chest with a letter opener. Repeatedly." 

"Where is she now?"

"An arrest warrant was issued for her but she's taken refuge at the old palace but that's all I know at the moment."

Marquise groaned. 

"Great...thank you for informing me. Please keep me informed of any further details."

"At once sire."

When Marquise entered the bedroom, he had an annoyed look on his face. 

"What's that look for?" Shanelle asks. 

"Earl Amos is dead," he replied. 

"Lady Alicia's husband?" 

"Yes. She stabbed him to death."

"What?! Why?" 

"I don't know yet. But I will find out. Just not right now."

"What happens to his estate in the meantime?"

"It goes to their oldest daughter." 

"Do you know where she is now?"

"Hiding out at your palace to avoid arrest but that's as far as I've gotten." 

"She won't be there for long. I'll put the call in to have her removed from the property. I will NOT be sheltering her."

"You're not. Her step-sister is."

"I don't care about her step-sister. Genevieve can kiss my whole ass. Alicia's gone as early as tomorrow morning."

Marquise smirked. 

"So says the Queen." 

"So shall it be."

[m-y--p-a-s-s-i-o-n-s]

20 Questions for Fic Writers!

Thanks for the tag, @lizzy0305 <333

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

162

2. What’s your total AO3 word count?

622,263 - surprisingly low for how many fics I have, but a bunch are drabbles so I guess that checks.

3. What fandoms do you write for?

What fandoms don't I write for? XD

Supernatural. Sherlock. Star Trek. Teen Wolf. Marvel. Harry Potter. Merlin. James Bond. Lucifer. House MD. Primeval. Doctor Who. Venom. The Witcher. The Old Guard. Ted Lasso. Detroit Become Human. Good Omens. Our Flag Means Death. Hannibal.

Plus a few others.

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

Meant To Be - AOS Star Trek

5 Times Jim Forgot About Vulcan Hand Sensitivity & 1 Time He Didn't - AOS Star Trek

Making Love - Venom

Lunch Break - House MD

Truth Or Dare - Supernatural

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

I try to respond to every comment provided its not hate, I ignore hate. I want people to know that their comment is truly appreciated from the bottom of my heart. Comments are food for the writer's soul.

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Probably either The Void (TOS Star Trek) or Forever (SPN) or most of my SPN Endverse fics.

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

Most of my fics have happy endings, I live for them! Hmmm trying to think of particularly fluffy ones though... The Prince and The Princess - (AOS Star Trek) What No Man Has Done Before - (AOS Star Trek X HP) Good News - (DBH) Afterlife - (TOS Star Trek)

8. Do you get hate on fics?

Not too much, but it happens every so often. Why people can't just exit a fic or not interact with it if they don't like it is beyond me.

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

Sure do. Um, explicit and M/M but the specifics vary depending on pairing and fic. Been getting more detailed and more adventurous with it over the years though.

10. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written?

Ohhhh boi have I ever written a crazy crossover XD

Convergence - where I brought many many fandoms (and even more ships) together in a story with an actual plot.

Its not my only crossover, but it's by far the craziest.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not that I know of.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Not that I'm aware of, but I have been asked if some can be translated before, just never heard from them again.

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

In a way with @lizzy0305 who started Fragments ages ago and then I finished it because we both knew she wasn't going to finish it.

and also Double Date with weegie8 a long long time ago.

14. What’s your all time favourite ship?

My OTP of OTPs is Spirk <3

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

Theres a johnlock fic that could be the first wip i never go back to.

and an SPN and a Stanner fic that both could stay wips forever, but honestly it just takes one spark in my brain and the right mood and I could finish any of these, so never say never.

16. What are your writing strengths?

Not sure really. My fluff is extra tooth rotting? XD Also once I get used to a character their voice is easy to channel I suppose.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

Feels like everything when you're trying to write a damn fic XD um, maybe not putting in enough details into a scene.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

I often use Vulcan language in Star Trek fics, I think it adds to it. However I get that it can be annoying to not understand a piece of likely important dialogue cause its in another language. It doesn't bother me though.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Technically HP when I was teen, before I knew what fandom and fanfiction were. But when I was in the know it was Supernatural.

20. Favourite fic you’ve written?

How can I just pick one? I'll pick a multichapter and a one shot that I love.

The One That Got Away - TOS Star Trek

The Update - DBH

Tagging: @dayspring-askanison @heartshapedvows @doonarose

[daisyishedwig]

A not so short introduction

Hello! My name is Milo, I am 28 and have been on tumblr for more than a decade.

I am primarily a fandom blog, but I really post whatever I want. So what you will find here will vary from day to day. My biggest fandoms are Glee and Starkid, but you will also find Woe.Begone, Magnus Archives, Malevolent, Good Omens, Heartstopper, Marvel, DC, Omgcheckplease, Stargate, Farscape, Supernatural, Doctor Who, and any myriad of other pieces of fiction that strike my fancy.

For everything fandom related, I do tag so if you don't want to see a particular fandom's content, feel free to block the tag. For the majority of them, it will simply be the name of the media, but for Glee and Starkid I have specialized tags that I will list below a read more for ease of knowing what to block.

I am a fic writer, though I only recently started writing again. Previously I wrote exclusively Klaine fics but more recently I've switched to primarily writing Seblaine with a sprinkling of Hevans and Klaine. You can find my AO3 here and my old FF.net here. I no longer post to FF.net so if you want to keep up with what I'm currently writing, you'll want to follow my AO3.

Lastly, for the Glee fans. I am a multishipper and I have been for years. I welcome fans of any and all ships and I love to hear theories and ideas about pretty much any ship involving Kurt, Blaine, Sebastian, or Sam. So feel free to tag me in anything, message me about anything, or send me anything that you think I might like to see. I am always open to making new Glee friends since there's simply not enough of us out here anymore.

That being said, Klaine is obviously the most popular ship that I will be posting about and as such you will see a lot more content for them than for my other ships, simply because there is more out there. So if you don't like Klaine, it is probably imperative that you block my Klaine tag. I also understand if for that reason you don't want to follow me, but you can still come chat with me about the ships you do enjoy, even if we're not mutuals.

And as stated before, Glee and Starkid tags listed below the cut

(any character or ships not listed will be tagged simply with their name)

Glee

General tag - F: land of misfit toys

Klaine - OTP: bowties and neckerchiefs

Seblaine - OTP: you're kind of my favorite person (this one is new, so also block Seblaine in general as I get in the habit of using this one)

Kurt - C: Im still here

Blaine - C: little ball of sunshine

Glee Cast (and partners)

Miarren - OTP: partners in crime

Darren Criss - P: sexy mcderpy pants

Mia Swier/Criss - P: sexy is a state of mind

Chill - OTP: xo

Chris Colfer - P: porcelain prince

Will Sherrod - P: Disneyland boy

Starkid/Tin Can Bros

General tag - F: actual five year olds

Jeff Blim - P: rumbleroar

Curtwen (Spies are Forever) - OTP: the warmest hello

Show titles will usually be abbreviated - tgwdlm, npmd, nmt, nmt2, avpm, avps, avpsy, mamd, tto, hmb.

Unabbreviated show tags - Starship, Twisted, Ani, Little White Lie, Black Friday, Firebringer, Spies are Forever, Solve it Squad, Wayward Guide.

And my overall tag for the Hatchetfield shows is Hatchetfield Verse

I did once upon a time have unique tags for more of the starkids, but at this point Jeff's and Darren's are the only ones I still use. Now everyone else just get tagged with their names.

[malkaleh]

Numair, Ozorne & Thayet for the ask game!

My NOTP for them: Ozorne circa Immortals Era. Step away from that man Emperor Mage, I don’t care if you are still in love with him. On the other hand there is so much love there - it’s not healthy love (it’s possessive, abusive and ultimately destroys Ozorne but it’s still there)

My BROTP for them: Numair and Kel have such lovely interactions - though not very many of them but it’s so sweet. And Numair and Onua best friendship.

My OTP for them: I love Numair/Daine and I’m also like UGH about it which is a weird place to be but there we go (I think newer editions have aged Daine up and Numair down which does make a difference). Also Ozorne/Numair/Varice in an AU where Ozorne and Varice ran with him.

My second choice pairing for them: Listen the Numair-Thayet-Jon (and Alanna and George) OT4 is so so great (I’d add in a few more people here as well honestly. Like the addition of Raoul-Buri-Gary-Cynthia say)

My fluffy pairing for them: Numair/Daine and also like, definitely Numair/Jon/Thayet/Alanna/George honestly. Plus also Varice/Ozorne/Numair in the time before Ozorne goes full possessive dick on everyone.

My angsty pairing for them: Ozorne/Numair/Varice. AAAGH THE TRAGEDY IT SLAYS ME (I am rereading Tempests and Slaughter and like they love each other so much and it could have turned out differently and AAAAGH).

My favorite poly ship for them: The found family OT4.

My weirdest pairing for them: Maybe the OT4. To me this makes sense, but also this is me. The other thought is that, listen Roger of Conte travelling to Carthak and getting creepily into a young Arram (which he does not know about because Roger gets distracted by his and Chioké hate fucking but also he doesn’t get distracted because he’s thinking about Arram the entire time :shudders:)

My intrigued-by pairing for them: If I ever did a crossover type thing I absolutely believe in my soul that one of the Doctors and Numair would have a thing.

Ozorne

• My NOTP for them: Ozorne/Becoming Emperor. Should not have happened. Someone please rescue the vet student who wants to vibe with birds from this entire thing.

• My BROTP for them: Listen if Prince Stiloit had had more scope/time/hadn’t been murdered by Fucking Chioké I really think it might have made a difference

• My OTP for them: It is actually Ozorne/Numair/Varice in a world where things turn out differently. I think they were good for him (which I’m sure Numair struggled with the idea that he couldn’t save people from Ozorne or Ozorne from himself but they/he did make a difference. It just…got too much).

• My second choice pairing for them: Ozorne/Someone Get This Child An Adult Who Can And Will Help Them Please. (Also my OTP)

• My fluffy pairing for them: Ozorne/Numair/Varice, spymaster ozorne verse. They are so so so happy.

• My angsty pairing for them: Ozorne/Numair/Varice, canon edition.

• My favorite poly ship for them: Ozarrice

• My weirdest pairing for them: Somewhere in my head, there’s a world where Thayet and her two oldest children were bought to Carthak with Numair and unfortunately Numair/Thayet/Ozorne happened.

My intrigued-by pairing for them: There was something going on with Ozorne/Chioké and it’s Nothing Good. Or alternately Ozorne/Tristan which was also Nothing Good (Tristan is always aware that he’s never going to be loved/will always be a very distant second to Arram and Varice and it’s not helping anything)

Thayet

• My NOTP for them: I’m not sure that I have one (though now that I thought about it - Roger/Jon/Thayet UGH).

• My BROTP for them: Alanna and Thayet’s friendship helped save my life I am not even kidding.

• My OTP for them: Jon/Thayet my beloved beloved OTP. I truly believe they love each other so much - enough to carry on after either of them dies. Enough to work through things. I think they are soulmates and all of that.

• My second choice pairing for them: I actually kind of don’t have one. Maybe the poly ship below.

• My fluffy pairing for them: Jon/Thayet

• My angsty pairing for them: I really don’t think I have one.

• My favorite poly ship for them: Numair/Thayet/Jon/Alanna/George/Daine

• My weirdest pairing for them: The poly ship. Or okay, this isn’t exactly a ship but there’s the Ozorne/Numair/Thayet AU.

My intrigued-by pairing for them: Listen the Thayet/Varice/Ozorne/Numair/Jon in a spymaster ozorne AU.

[hoffmans-hoffman]

Rhett and Bruce deserve better the teams used them for their abilities

[kakusu-shipping]

For the OTP au ramble me and greed or me and sanji!!!!! (Or both even!!! Either would be exciting!!~ :3)

Logically I know Greed better because I've known of him longer and you've seen more of his show than Sanji.. but I'm doing Sanji anyway because he's my Blorbo-in-law and I love him

Ask from here (still open to Moots)

Coffee Shop AU - Cafe worker Sanji and regular Zayne makes the most sense to me, I imagine he's working under Zeff in this modern style relaxed AU. You drop by on your way to collage to get a baked good for breakfast, chat him up, and walk on. He is hopelessly pinning over your oblivious ass.

Highschool AU - Bad Boy Zayne, Straight A Sanji!!!! Nerd Sanji!!! Sanji with glasses!! Sanji who knows exactly what he wants to be when he graduates and won't let anything get in his way!! Until he's forced to tutor Punk Zayne in math.... Aah so cool <3

Rivals to Lovers AU - Less literal fist fight rivalry and more... Professional Chefs who are in constant competition, on interviews playfully bashing eachother, or duking it out on cooking shows. Or maybe even just rival restaurateurs. Your shops just happen to be across the street from eachother so you're constantly fighting for customers.

Enemies to Lovers AU - Nooo this one's haaaard it'd have to be a Friends to Enemies to Lovers or I couldn't handle it!! Zayne corruption arc post leaving Sanji when they were kids, he was captured by bad pirates or tricked or something and becomes a big main villain for one of the seasons so Sanji has to reach out to you and remind you of the good times to get you back!

Soulmate AU - Sanji seems the hopeless romantic type, daydreaming about a beautiful soulmate who'd come whisk him off his feet and carry them off into the sunset. This during Jaded Zayne arc of not being super into the idea of romance, marriage, sex, etc would be very funny to me. He just goes on and on with rants of his future love and you are NOT listening dskjfkdsjgf

Single Parent AU - SINGLE DAD SANJI!!!!! Divorced Sanji specifically his wife is alive and they get along fine it just didn't work out. I think he'd have the CUTEST baby girl to ever live. Bright blond hair big blue eyes. Maybe Kindergarten teacher Zayne... Aaaa that's so cute <3

Doctor AU - Scrappy Zayne, Doctor Sanji who's so fucking tired of this dude coming in with a broken nose and a twisted ankle and a busted jaw every few weeks. He's so jaded, he just assumes you're some bar fight guy, until he's walking home late and comes across you standing up for some girl who was getting harassed by a drunk and taking a hit for her. Take you home, patch you up <3

Bodyguard AU - Aaaah you both have such Princely energy it's hard to put one of you as the Guard for the other... But I put you in a lot of the fighter roles so far so it's your turn to be protected! Bodyguard Sanji, but more like... Black Butler style. He's also your chef and helps you dress in the morning and brings you your tea. He's the ultimate right hand man.

The last two are both canon to your S/I so we'll leave it at that

[refriedrambles]

Manhwa time~

I Became the Chef of the Dragon King, The Greatest Estate Developer, and The Crown Prince That Sells Medicine are all written by the same dude and at least the first two have wonderful dynamics.

First one we get this Korean girl from a pre modern period being tossed into another world after her father sells her off as a sacrifice and like the whole isekai bit is incidental it's great, she super diligent and hard working and the dragon king she decides she serving now just wants to sleep but she keeps waking him up with food or getting into some sort of trouble. It's great. Amazing. Lovely little slice of life romance.

Then we get to Lloyd and Javier. Best bromance in comics you can't convince me otherwise. Like probably my otp just in the fact it's the only thing I read where I stopped while actively reading and went 'oh man these two should fuck', and I mean they're not gonna, it's strictly platonic and that's honestly probably for the best in this particular case but still. Lloyd is a lazy, money grubbing, insanely competent lunatic with a system basically demanding he save as many people as possible. He's like Cale from Trash of the Count's House (if I fucked up the name of my fav light novel Imma be pissed) but he's not cool and no one thinks he is, the faces don't help that fact nor does the groveling or bootlicking but they are certainly part of his charm. Between his unhinged one man performances you get glimpses of genuine depth from the man only for him to start howling or cackling in greed moments later. Javier on the other hand was supposed to be the main character of the novel, he's a bodyguard who detested his charge cause the original Lloyd was a fucking mess. He is a swords master or at least very close to becoming one with a strong sense of duty and justice. He's got Cale's cool and collected demeanor which only breaks to show disgust for Lloyd and his antics, but his loyalty only grows as the plot goes on. He's so completely done with Lloyd's shit though. And beyond that they grow this bond. This undeniable chemistry, so strong it makes them gag when it's in the air. Yeah, it's fantastic

Side note Cale is probably my favorite character of all time. The red hair and eye bags on top of this characterization is just so perfect to me. The constant struggle between 'I just wanna do nothing' and 'I need to fix this' is perfect. He's a workaholic with the only goal to relax. Also we get world building for both worlds he resides in that really deepens his character, I reiterate it's perfect. But this is irrelevant. The Trash of the Count's House is a totally different property by a completely different author.

I don't have much to say about The Crown Prince Who Sells Medicine yet. Like Mc was a doctor who possesses the Crown Prince who's kinda dying and a huge piece of shit, pretty standard isekai nonsense at this point seen it a thousand times typically with noble ladies but quite a few have princes as MCs too. Like it's one of the generic backgrounds for an MC dies and possessed the body of whatever character in a novel, other variants being the socially isolated office lady overworked to point exhaustion, the betrayed lover, the abused orphan and chef. It's a weird little bag but it's what we got for the vast majority of story with the isekai possession trope that actually decide to even slightly touch on backgrounds. (Then there's the common 'your modern past life was actually your second life and your first was another iteration of your current one! There wasn't actually any possession cause it was you to begin with!' tropet which is convoluted but weirdly common.) His doctor/servant is left terrified and balking when the prince stabbing himself with pins and needles (questionable acupuncture) and starts requesting poisons only to down them in front of him (it's supposed to for medicine but the system aspect of this one isn't really helping it in this case) but I get the feeling he'd not gonna be a big part of the main dynamic. I'll have to keep an idea on it

[dangermousie]

The Kingdom of the Winds OTP post - part 2

Continued from here:

(99+) Musings of the Obsessive Kind on Tumblr

Point 5: The family that ninjaes together, stays together

And then they are sent on a mission and she volunteers. Nothing like mixing a bit of deadly poison and being protected by your hottie forbidden OTP.

There is also this:

And then she bandages up his arm completely ignoring her own wound. Awwww.

Especially when he is reminded by everyone all the time that he is a slave and she is a Princess so he better give up. So he just stares angstily at her with the other hot and messed-up assassin instead:

(Clearly assassin org only hires hot men. As they should.)

Because seriously, how could you not love Yeon? She's literally the pink light of his tortured existence.

Point 6: If your father is executed for treason, your life will suck. But you'll get a hot guy out of it.

Yeon's ninja daddy is framed and ordered killed with his whole family - by Muhyul's elite ninja squad. But Muhyul rescies Yeon regardless in a spectacularly awesome fashion. Significantly, he does not rescue the Daddy and something tells me he doesn't feel too bad about his demise.

"Wherever you are, I will find you." Someone is channeling the Last of the Mohicans.

This does not make Muhyul's issues any better however. On the plus side, the more messed-up he is, the hotter he looks. As I said, with the amount of whump, h/c and general angst, by the end he's so hot he's a bio hazard.

Point 7: The pretty girl? Is made of grit. And the pretty boy? Is made of angst.

Yeon has nothing now: no royal status, no family, no money, and she is hunted. However, she is determined. And bookish. I love that she is on foot in enemy country, by herself, still with a book!

She gets caught and sold into slavery. But luckily the buyer recognizes her doctor skills so she becomes a money-earning venture for him and not a bedmate.

Just as well, because do you really want to mess with this guy?

In the middle of his spectacular break-down and kidnapping/regicide plots (because believe or not, this drama actually has a long and complicated plot), he takes time out to carve the figure of Yeon. Once again, a killer artist in more than one sense.

Here he is, finding out everything he dedicated himself to in the last few years has been a lie. This is not strictly ship related but it's hot so here you go.

Point 8: Hurt/comfort is still better than anything

Theis speaks for themselves:

And when he is better, she comforts him:

Point 9: But cuteness personified is even better!

Point 10: And so are hugs!

Point 11: Even plot helps the shippy!

He finds out he is a cursed cursed prince and...of course...seeks Yeon.

And she worries about his bloody hands.

And he asks her to go away with him and she says yes!

Point 12: Rescuing a woman from death is like foreplay

Case in point:

To be continued in part 3:

(99+) Musings of the Obsessive Kind on Tumblr

[nolanhollogay]

otp questions + thellamy!!!

Coffee shop AU: theo is the barista! bell is the customer! cant explain why it just feels right

Highschool/College AU: hmm this is hard... honestly i think theyre both the straight a student

Rivals to lovers AU: theo takes it SOOO seriously, bell would just love to be mildly annoying at all times

Enemies to lovers AU: theo switches sides (canon)

Soulmate AU: honestly, i think theo would be eager to meet bell, and bell wouldnt care at all

Single parent AU: theo is the single parent and bell is the love interest <3

Doctor AU: fjhfj theo is the doctor, bell is the patient who keeps asking stupid questions but its okay bcuz hes hot <3

Bodyguard AU: bodyguard theo <3 protected bell <3 and theyre Both pining

Pirate AU: i think bell would be the pirate simply bcuz i cannot see him as royalty, i can see theo as like a cold hearted prince who gets kidnapped for ransom

Childhood best friends AU: theo is obvious bell is oblivious send tweet

[khoicesbyk]

The Royal Romance.

Forevermore.

A/N: this is the next chapter in the journey of my OTP. Follow along for the fun.

Rated: Mature (at times can and will be Explicit. I'll be sure to change the rating when and if that happens). | May contain sexual content and strong language. (You know? The usual. Y'all should be used to this from me by now 😁) | Bolded and/or italicized words are conversations and thoughts of the characters. | Main Characters: King Marquise Rys (LI) and Queen Shanelle Miller-Rys (MC) | All Characters and names: (except MC and original characters created by me and/or other authors [their characters have been mentioned and/or used in the story with their permission] ) are property of Pixelberry.

Current Word Count: 8,640 words. (may be slightly more or may be slightly less. Look, I stop counting after editing and re-editing and driving myself insane. 🤷🏾‍♀️)

If you’d like to be added to my tag list. Just reblog or dm me and I will gladly add you! 😁😘

This series is rated Mature and/or Explicit. It is NOT reading material that is safe for those under 18. Reader discretion is STRONGLY advised!

Missing a chapter or want to read a chapter again? I got you covered! Click ——> Here!

Tag List: @choicesficwriterscreations

Chapter 5.) Joy Of Winter.

It's December in Cordonia. And many in the kingdom were abuzz for the annual Cordonia Winter Festival. It has become somewhat of a national pride and many were ready to celebrate. None more than Marquise. He loves the event and the fact that it has become his wife’s newest pastime brings him joy. 

December wasn't just the month of the Winter Festival. It was also the month of his graduation. He was to finally graduate with a Doctorate in Psychology. He was excited and couldn't wait to go to Boston. But first, before he could celebrate he had business to attend to. 

It was a few weeks removed since his mother-in-law had gotten into a physical altercation with Countess Alicia. With many of the nobles beginning to take Lady Alicia’s side and wanting Shantel to be removed from her post. But Marquise knew better. And after the security footage of the fight was released, he had both ladies meet him in his office to discuss and remedy the issue. 

“Good morning to you both. Thank you for joining me. Please have a seat.” he said to them both. 

“Thank you for having us, Your Majesty,” Shantel replied. 

“Yes. Thank you.” Alicia agreed. 

“You’re both very welcome. Now that you both are here, we can get down to business. Apparently, you two have an issue that needs to be resolved. Now.”

Alicia huffed. 

“There wouldn't be an issue, Your Majesty, if someone here had remembered her place.” 

Shantel rolled my eyes. 

“If by ‘remembered her place’ you mean that I should've remembered that I am a Duchess and you’re not, then yes you’re right I should have, and by doing so I should’ve had you thrown out of the palace.”

“You have no authority there!” Alicia sneered. 

“No, I don't. But my husband, perhaps you know him, his name is Prince Damien Miller, he does. And so does my daughter. The Queen. After all, it is HER palace. Not yours. And certainly not your step-sister’s.” Shantel shot back. 

“Your husband is a coward and idiot!” Alicia seethed. 

“If by that you mean he chose better and by that I mean he chose me and not a bottom feeder like you. Then yeah you're so right he is.”

Alicia’s face contorted with disgust. 

“Why you no good god awful Jezebel!” Alicia snapped at Shantel. 

“You're still mad that he didn't want you then and still doesn't want you now!” Shantel spat back at her. 

“Why you–” Alicia started to say before Marquise cut her off, “That is enough! Have some decorum! You’re both grandmothers for God's sake.”

Shantel raised an eyebrow. 

“You know what? You're right, Your Majesty. We should know better. Especially me. After all, my sweet granddaughter is the Crown Heir. I have an example to set for her. I wouldn't want her to see me act like this.” 

Alicia scoffed. 

“This is why you are not and never will be worthy of your so-called title and station as Duchess. You think because you slept with Damien that you belong among us. You are nothing but a commoner. A low-brow American commoner at that.”

“Correction: you slept with him. And according to him, you were never really that good. Unlike you, I married him. I love him. Something you have always been incapable of doing.”

“Ladies!” Marquise warned. 

“I don’t even know why I’m even here. We both know you'll do nothing but side with this sad excuse of a noble.” Alicia said to Marquise. 

Marquise took a deep breath and straightened his spine. 

“You're here because whether you like Shantel or not, whether you like the fact she is married to Damien or not, she is still an active member of The Royal Family. And you decided to put your hands on her. Knowing that it's against the law to do so.” Marquise said to Alicia. 

“She started it!” Alicia protested. 

Shantel rolled her eyes. 

“Countess, with all due respect, I have seen the security footage and heard the accompanying audio as well. You antagonized her after she, my father-in-law, and Commander Devereaux were situated and settled into their rooms and when she snapped at you for your rudeness during dinner, you threw a drink in her face. Which ended quite badly for you.” 

Alicia rolled her eyes and Marquise raised an eyebrow at her. 

“Did you just roll your eyes at me, Countess?” he asked. 

“Of course not. I'm not a heathen. Unlike some people.” she replied while gesturing to Shantel. 

“I'm not so sure your actual husband, Earl Amos, would agree.” Shantel shot back at her. 

“Ladies! Last. Chance.” Marquise warned. 

The two women glared at each other but said nothing. 

“Now this issue between you two needs to be put to rest permanently. You are both nobles of very high society, given you both have close proximity to King Dominic and Shantel has close proximity to myself and my wife.”

“So just what are you proposing, Your Majesty?” Alicia asked. 

“After speaking with both of your husbands I let them decide what the best course of action is to take,” Marquise replies. 

“And what did they decide?” Shantel asks. 

“Your husbands decided that you two are going to work together.”  Marquise replies. 

They were stunned. 

“What?!” Shantel asks. 

“Excuse me?!” Alicia asked. 

“Allow me to explain, because Shantel is the Education Minister, she needs a second in command. That's where you come in Alicia. Because as of this moment, per your husband's request, you are no longer Head Of Staff at the palace in Cloutier.”

Alicia blinked. 

“What do you mean by his request?!” Alicia asks. 

“What I mean is Earl Amos requested you be fired from your position as Head Of Staff for embarrassing and potentially jeopardizing his house, social standing, and name. And I will honor his request. Effective immediately. Instead, you will serve as Shantel’s second in command. Consider it fair and well…karmic punishment.”

Their jaws dropped. 

“So you’re saying that I have to work for that?!” Alicia asked, gesturing at Shantel who rolled her eyes. 

“Yes. This was the solution both men came up with and as King, I signed off on it.” Marquise replied. 

“Unbelievable. I can not believe that no good coward would turn on me!”

Shantel shook her head. 

“Next time pick on someone who can't fight. You know, like your step-sister?” Shantel quipped. 

Marquise turned his attention to his mother-in-law. 

“As for you madam, you said it best. Your granddaughter is the Crown Heir. And it is up to you to set the greatest example for her. And as her father and your King, I expect you to act like it. Now as far as Alicia working for you is concerned, I expect you to be a fair leader. Is that clear?” Marquise asks. 

“Of course. She's not the first combative person I've dealt with in a workplace and she won't be the last.”

Alicia scoffed. 

“This is humiliating! I shouldn't have to work with her!” 

“Not work with her Countess. Work under her. She is officially your boss. But as she has just assured me, she will be fair. And I expect that you will be compliant.”

“And if I’m not? What then? You forget I’m protected by my brother-in-law.” Alicia asked. 

“First of all, his detail does not extend to you. And hasn't extended to you since he lost power. And secondly, I could just forgo the solution and go with Damien’s original idea,” Marquise replies. 

“What idea?” Alicia asks. 

“That I strip you of your title and lands. That was Damien’s original idea. The only reason he didn't push harder for it is because of your grandchildren. He as well as your husband didn't think it would be fair for them to have to lose what's rightfully theirs because you want to be a 60-going-5-year-old.” Marquise replied. 

Shantel snickered quietly.

“It's no wonder why many of the nobles don't respect you, Your Majesty. You let worms like her get away with murder, while you punish their betters for no reason.” Alicia sneered at him. 

“Oh, I definitely have a reason. It's called I'm the King and this is my kingdom! Now if you’re that unhappy with how I rule and run things, you are free to live anywhere you'd like. Just know that it won't be here in Cordonia.”

Alicia huffed. 

“Are we done?” Alicia asked. 

“Get out of my office!” Marquise hissed at her. 

Alicia got up and stormed out. Slamming his office door. 

“Well, that was fun,” Shantel said. 

Marquise raised an eyebrow at her, causing her to shake her head. 

“I'll be fine, son.”

“I know. But I meant it when I told her that you would be fair. Do not make me look like a liar.”

“I would never do that to you. You know this. I know how hard you work to balance everything.” 

“Good.”

“You know she's going to run and tell the first noble she comes across that you have been unfair to her right?” Shantel asked. 

“I'm betting on it. But I've been in power long enough to know how to deal with these wealthy idiots.” he replies. 

“What if she tries to gather enough support to oust you and my daughter?” she asks. 

“Unless she can somehow convince the 5 heads of the Great Houses of Cordonia to support her cause, I doubt it. Also, Countess Madeleine, Duchess Kiara, Duke Bertrand, Duchess Olivia, and Duke Landon pledged their support to the crown when Khari was born and reaffirmed that pledge when my boys were born.”

“Madeleine took over for her mother?” Shantel asks. 

“Mmhmm. Duchess Adelaide has kidney cancer on top of having Cirrhosis.” Marquise replied. 

“Oh my God!” Shantel said with a gasp. 

“Her health struggles haven't been made public yet, but due to her rapidly declining health, she quietly passed the duties as Head Of House over to her daughter when the boys were six months old.” 

“Is it terminal?” Shantel asks. 

“That I don't know. I do know that Adelaide is on the donor list. I also don't know how high up the list she is.” Marquise replies. 

“Does my daughter know?” 

“Yes. We went to see the Duchess a few weeks ago.”

“How can Madeleine be Head Of House if her mother is still a Duchess?”

“Her health. If a Head Of House ever falls gravely ill, they can pass their duties on to their heir. Maddy won't officially be Duchess of Fydelia until her mother officially passes.”

Shantel nodded. 

Just then there was a loud commotion outside of Marquise’s office door. 

“What in the world?” Shantel asks. 

That's when Earl Amos Barbaroux came in with Countess Alicia hot on his heels. 

“May I help you?” Marquise asked. 

“Yes, yes you can. You can tell my so-called husband that the deal he made with Damien is off!” 

The Earl rolled his eyes. 

“Please my King, I apologize for intruding into your office. But my wife is being unreasonable.”

Alicia whirled around on him. 

“Unreasonable?! You are trying to dehumanize me by forcing me to work for someone who is way beneath my station!” Alicia yelled at her husband. 

“You don't have a station!” he yelled back at her. “I have a station!”

Shantel and Marquise looked at each other as Earl Amos took a deep breath. 

“If it wasn't for me, you'd still be the same noble whore, that your parents passed around, family to family, until they found mine, specifically they found my father, and begged him to match us together!” 

This left the King and his mother-in-law speechless. 

“You—” Alicia started to say before her husband cut her off, “I have had to put up with you and your constant disrespect and condescendence for decades. And now is when I put my foot down!” 

“Enough! Whatever the issue is or issues are between you two, will not and can not be solved by you two having a shouting match in my office. So if you two don't mind.” Marquise said to both of them while gesturing to his office door, “Thank you.”

Earl Amos nodded. 

“Yes, you’re right Your Majesty. I apologize for my behavior towards you and Duchess Shantel.” he replied to Marquise before addressing Shantel, “ and speaking of you Duchess, I would also like to extend my sincerest apologies for my wife and her unbecoming and unscrupulous behavior towards you all these years. I have never been more ashamed or embarrassed.”

Shantel nodded. 

“Thank you for your apology, Sir.”

Earl Amos gave her a small smile and nod before turning his attention back to his wife. 

“His Majesty asked us both to leave his office. So let's go,” he said calmly to her. 

Alicia crossed her arms as she glared at him. 

“I am not going anywhere with you! You no good traitor!” Alicia sneered at her husband. 

“Well, you’re certainly not going to be staying in my office all day so you and Earl Amos can both take your leave.”

Alica scoffed at Marquise. 

“Countess, I will NOT repeat myself,” Marquise warned her. 

Alicia huffed and began to turn on her heel. But not before saying one last thing to her husband. 

“I should've had Edward kill you when I had the chance!”

The Earl scoffed.

“Well, now you can't. And until our youngest three children have finished their studies and are off to university, I am stuck living with a shrew of a wife better known as you.”

Alicia stood there with her mouth open as she watched her husband walk out. Then followed behind him not too long after. 

“Well that was certainly eventful,” Shantel said to Marquise. 

Marquise only shook his head. 

“Too eventful.”

“What happened to them?” Shantel asks, “From all I ever heard he's been nothing but good to her.” 

“He has. But she's never been any good to him.”

“But why? What has he done that she hates him so much?”

Marquise looked at his door for a moment.

“Off the record? The three youngest children he mentioned…aren't biologically his.”

“What?!” Shantel asked. 

“Their biological father was a man Alicia had been having an affair with for years. He worked on her and Amos’s estate staff. And rather than risk the scandal of divorce, he's raised them as his own.” Marquise replies. 

“Do you think their children know he's not their biological father?” Shantel asked. 

“I doubt it. I don’t think he wants them to know.”

Shantel nodded. 

“I can understand why. It would break his heart. Where is their biological father?”

Marquise exhaled slowly. 

“You don't know this but your brother-in-law had him executed when the man threatened to go public about his and Alicia’s affair.”

“You're joking!”

Marquise shook his head no. 

“Nope. And Edward made sure to have this man erased from all public records. And he even told Amos that he was to raise the children as his own until they became of age.”

“Edward, had every trace of him erased?”

“Yes. You forget he had A LOT of unchecked power then. No one would have questioned him then. It took me a while but I did find the man’s name.”

“What was it?”

“His name was Yohan. But that's all I have been able to recover about him.”

“Surely the man had a family.”

Marquise exhaled slowly. 

“If he did, they were silenced by either execution or exile.”

Shantel shook her head. 

“So is that all nobles do? Cheat on each other and drink themselves to death?” she asked. 

“No. They also brag about their insane wealth and power while thinking it rivals mine.”

“And we both know your power is unmatched.”

“Exactly. So now that all that ugliness is over, how about I treat you to lunch?” Marquise asked.

“I would love to have lunch with you son-in-love.” 

“Perfect!” 

Later that night Marquise had caught Shanelle up on his very colorful morning. 

“Alicia was cheating on Earl Amos?” 

“Yes. For years. And she was able to get away with it.”

“How?”

“She knew he could never challenge her because all she had to do was run to either Edward or Genevieve and she'd be safe. So he knew it was safer to keep quiet.”

“Yikes!”

“Yeah.” 

Shanelle took a sip of her wine. 

“Now are you sure this Alicia woman working under my mom is a good idea?” 

“Absolutely. I trust your mother, I especially trust in her judgment. I also trust that Alicia will remember that she has more to lose than gain if she defies the decision that was reached.”

Shanelle nodded. 

“Now onto more exciting things. Like your graduation next week.”

Marquise snickered. 

“I am so excited. I can't wait.”

“Same! We've been waiting for it and now it's here. How do you really feel?” she asked. 

“Honestly, I’m relieved. It's been a long journey. But it's been worth it. And now by this time next week, I will have my degree in my hands. And then we and the kingdom will celebrate our favorite kingdom pastime.”

“I know I’m so excited. I love seeing the palace and the orchard all decorated. And it'll be the first Winter Festival that the boys will be able to participate in.”

“They were at the one last year.”

“They were with Nina all day. She kidnapped our boys.”

“Not that you minded my Queen.”

“True.”

“But you’re right. They will have a blast.”

“And of course, there's my favorite: the annual snowball fight.”

Marquise raised an eyebrow at his wife. 

“What do you have planned for this year, my love?”

“Battle of the sexes!” 

“You mean I get to throw a snowball at you?”

“No. It means you will finally be dethroned as the defending snowball fight champion.”

Marquise snickered. 

“May the best team win my Goddess.”

“I know I will.”

Marquise rolled his eyes good-naturedly. 

Over the next few days, the couple spent time together before His Majesty had to get ready for his solo trip to the States. While he was excited to go, his children weren't. They had never been away from their dad for that long. So the Princess came up with a great idea for her and her brothers. They would go with him without him knowing. She pulled out one of her Daddy’s biggest suitcases and did her checklist. 

“Okay, boys! We have our snacks, our juice, and our chocolate milk! Now do you have your blankies?” Khari asked her brothers. Both boys held up their blankies. 

“And you have your touchdown bears?”

The boys held up their bears. 

“Alright! Let's hop in!”

All three climbed into the suitcase and shut it. 

“Okay, boys! We gotta be quiet so Daddy doesn't know! So shhh!” she whispered to her giggling brothers. Who tried their hardest to quiet down so they wouldn't get caught. Sadly they were caught when their parents couldn't find them and looked all over the palace for them. But they discovered the suitcase they were hiding in. 

“Babe?” Shanelle asked over her shoulder. 

“Yeah?” Marquise replied. 

“Is this one of your suitcases?” 

Marquise looked at it.

“Yeah, but I never packed this one.” 

“Then why is it closed?”

Marquise went to open it when he heard familiar giggling. He shook his head and started to chuckle. 

“What's so funny?”  Shanelle asked. 

“I just figured out why we haven't been able to find the children.”

“What do you mean?”

“Take a listen.”

Shanelle leaned in and heard the same giggling. 

“No, they didn't.”

“Yes, they did.”

Shanelle shook her head with a smile. 

“Let's play along.”

Shanelle nodded. 

“There's my suitcase! I've been looking all over for it!”

“Good, I'm glad you found it. Now you and my dad can go on your trip.”

“Yup now let me just zip it up.”

The giggling intensified when he zipped up the suitcase. 

“Say, my love, have you seen the children?” he asks. 

“No, I can't say that I have,” she replied.

“Oh well! I'm sure we'll see them before I leave.”

Marquise picked up the suitcase and carried it down with the children giggling inside and him and Shanelle snickering the whole time. When they got to the main hall where Shanelle’s parents were waiting they heard the giggling. 

“What in the world is going on?” Damien asks. 

Shanelle told them and asked them to play along. 

“Well, Your Highness. I believe we're ready to leave.” Marquise said to Damien. 

“Yes, my King. It seems that we are ready. It's just I haven't seen the kids. Shantel and I looked everywhere for them.”

“Y’know that's funny! Their mother and I were just saying the same thing.” 

“Where could those kids be?” Shantel asked. 

Shanelle just shook her head laughing softly. That's when Margo walked up. 

“Are you ready to leave my King?” she asked Marquise. 

“Yes. We will be leaving shortly. Do me a favor. Take a listen to the suitcase.”

Margo took a listen and heard her grandchildren giggling. 

“Why are they in the suitcase?” Margo asked. 

“Because apparently, they think they're going with me. So we're playing along.” Marquise whispered. 

Margo nodded. 

“Mama, since you’re here have you seen the children?” Marquise asked. 

“No, I haven't. I thought they were with you and their mother.” Margo replies. 

“No. No one has seen them. Damien and I can't leave without saying goodbye to them. Oh well! Let me take my suitcase and Damien and I can take our leave.” 

“That's an unusually large suitcase, my son. What do you have in it?” Margo asked. 

“You know I don't remember what I packed in it. Let me check.” 

Marquise opened the suitcase and there were his children and their giggling. 

“There you are! What are the three of you doing in my suitcase?” Marquise asks. 

“We don't want you to leave so we're going with you Daddy,” Khari replied. 

His heart exploded as he helped them out of the suitcase and sat down with them. 

“My love you know you and your brothers can't go with me.”

“But!” Khari pouted.

Marquise put a gentle finger to her lips. 

“My love. I love you and I love Zyon and I love Kylo. But you three are too young to go with me.”

“But we don't want you to go Daddy.”

“I know you don't. I won't be gone long.”

He hated seeing the looks on their little faces. 

“I'll see you three Thursday.”

“It's not the same Daddy,” Khari said, shaking her head sadly. 

“Dada…” Zyon whined. 

Marquise took a deep breath. 

“If it's one thing you three know how to do perfectly, it's tugging at Daddy’s heartstrings.”

He gathered the three of him in his arms.

“I love you. I love each of you. I don't like to leave you but sometimes Daddy has to. But I promise I  will never ever be gone for very long.”

Marquise looked at his children and smiled before clearing his throat and singing softly. 

“Come now my sweet babies please don't cry. Let's wipe those tears from your eyes. Let's see those smiles so they brighten up the day. Always remember no matter what, Daddy is never too far away.”

He held his children close before Kylo looked up at him then went and grabbed his blankie. 

“Blankie!” he said as he held it up to his father. 

“You want me to take it with me?” Marquise asked. 

Kylo’s only answer was a smile. 

“Thank you, my love. I will take great care of it.”

Zyon followed suit by giving his father his touchdown bear. 

“My! I'm being spoiled today. Thank you.”

He held his two boys close to his chest. 

“My two sweet loves. I love you both more than I could ever tell you. I will see you both soon. I won't be gone for long.”

He kissed them both on their foreheads before sending them to their mother and turning his attention to his daughter. 

“Come here, my love.”

Khari stood in front of her father with a sad look on her face. 

“Are you mad at me Daddy?” she asked. 

“Never. You are allowed to feel whatever it is you feel. I could never fault you for that.” he replied. 

“So I’m not in trouble?” 

“No. You and your brothers kinda gave yourselves away when you first started giggling. We couldn't help but play along.” 

“You knew that we were in the suitcase the whole time?”

“Yes, my sweet one. We did. Your mother and I couldn't help but play along.”

“Oh…” Khari said dejectedly. 

Marquise tilted his head before gently tilting her chin up. 

“You have no idea how much I adore you. I adore the way you love your little brothers. I know why you feel the way you do. I used to feel that way whenever my mother had to leave for a short period.”

“Really?” she asked. 

“Yes. When I was 8 years old, Mother had to go on a leaders fellowship to Namibia for three months and I missed her terribly. Every day I would ask everyone on her staff when she was coming back.” 

“You did?” Khari asks. 

“Ohh yes. Every single day until your grandmother returned.” Margo replied. 

Khari giggled. 

“My point is I know what it feels like. I know you don't want me to go but I have to. It will only be for a few days.”

Khari looked down at the ground. He pulled her close to him. 

“Do you know what happens next Saturday?” he asked her. 

“Your graduation?” she replies. 

“Yes. Do you know why I’m excited about it?”

“Because you worked really hard for it?” 

“Yes. But that's not why I’m excited about it.”

“Then why Daddy?”

“Because you and your brothers will be walking across the stage with me when I get my degree.”

Khari perked up.

“We will?” 

“Yes. I asked if it would be okay and the committee I spoke to agreed.” 

Khari nodded. 

“Look at me, my love.”

Khari looked up at her dad.

“I will only be gone for a few days. I know you’re sad but we’ll be together again on Thursday.”

“You promise Daddy?”

“I swear it on my heart, my life, and my soul. I will never be away from your side for too long.” 

Khari chewed her bottom lip and then nodded. 

“Okay.”

Marquise wrapped his daughter in a loving hug as he stood up. 

“I love you, I adore you. My sweet beautiful Princess.”

Khari gave him a big kiss on the cheek. 

“I love you too Daddy. I'm sorry we tried to trick you.”

“No need to apologize, my love. Now go to your mother. Okay?”

Khari nodded. 

“I will call you and your brothers tonight okay?”

“Pinky promise?” she asked, holding up her pinky. 

“Pinky promise,” he replied, hooking his pinky to hers.

With a soft kiss on her forehead from her father Khari was at her mother’s side. Marquise stood up and looked to his father-in-law.

“Your Highness, NOW we can leave.”

“Of course,” Damien replied with a small chuckle. 

With final goodbyes to their loved ones. Marquise and Damien were soon on their way to the airstrip. Once in the air Marquise silently became curious about his children’s plan to go with him. 

“Something on your mind son?” Damien asked. 

“Just wondering where Khari got the idea to pack herself and the boys in a suitcase,” Marquise replies. 

Damien chuckled. 

“From me. It's an old story that I told her when she asked me if her mother had ever gotten into big trouble as a child.”

“What do you mean?” Marquise asked. 

“Shanelle was 4 years old when she didn't want me to leave on a trip home. So she packed herself into my suitcase and fell asleep.” 

Marquise snorted. 

“And I nearly missed my flight because Shantel and I couldn't find her.” Damien replied. 

Marquise nodded with a smile. 

“I guess she thought she’d succeed where her mother failed.” Damien quipped. 

“She would have if she and the boys weren't giggling so much.”

Damien simply nodded with a smile. 

His Majesty and Prince Damien’s US trip began when they touched down in Tennessee. There they were taken across the state line into Kentucky, where they visited His Majesty’s Bourbon Distillery. They toured the facility and even got to taste the special holiday blend. As well as touring the four adjacent horse farms. That's where His Majesty got the idea for the name of the distillery. Terre de Chevaux. Which means Land Of Horses.  

That night he called to check in with his children. 

“Hello, my little ones! I miss you so much.”

“We miss you too Daddy. How is your trip?” Khari asked while holding the phone so her brothers could see. 

“It's been fun. I toured the distillery and the horse farms around it and do you know what I found out?” Marquise replied. 

Khari shook her head no.

“I met some of the horses. And I learned their names.”

“What are their names?” 

“One is named Esther after my grandmother. Another is named Victor after my uncle. And the last one is named Ellie.”

“Like Grandmother?”

“Exactly my love.”

“Wow! Will we get to meet them, Daddy?”

“I hope so.”

“Where do you go next Daddy?”

“I will go to the capitol in Washington D.C. tomorrow, where I will get to speak to Congress, and then your grandfather and I will be in Boston. Where I will see you three Thursday.”

“We can't wait! Right boys?” Khari asked her brothers who were trying to take the phone from her. 

“It's time for bed my loves.”

“Okay, Daddy. We’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

“I love you all. So much.”

“We love you too! Right boys?”

Later after putting their children to bed, Shanelle had a quiet conversation with her husband. 

“Finally! They're all down for the count.”

Marquise snickered. 

“I miss you. You know that right?”

“Yeah, I know. I miss you too, handsome. But like you told the kids we’ll see each other Thursday.”

“Indeed we will. It's amazing that we’ve been to Boston twice in one year.”

“I know you should go play the numbers while you’re in the States.” 

Marquise snorted. 

“Yeah sure I will.”

Shanelle let out a small yawn that she failed to hide. 

“Go to bed, my Queen. I'll text you in the morning.”

“Alright. Goodnight Handsome.”

“Goodnight my Goddess.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too Shanelle.”

After blowing her husband a small kiss, Shanelle went to bed. The next morning, His Majesty touched down in Washington D.C. to re-sign the Cordon-America Act of 1985. After signing the act Marquise got the chance to speak to Congress. Something he only ever dreamed about. 

“Good Morning everyone! My what a dream come true this is for me. I actually get to speak to Congress as a whole. If only my Poli Sci professor could see me now.”

In his nearly 45-minute speech, Marquise highlighted the importance of the act and the continuation of the shared goal between his kingdom and America. A free, safe, and fair world for all to live in. After his speech, he and Damien toured The Library Of Congress, where he saw the original Declaration of Independence. Once the tour ended, they traveled to the Maryland National Cemetery so Damien could lay flowers at his in-law's graves. 

“I haven't been here in a few years. It's good to see them.” Damien said as he laid the flowers on each grave. 

“Thank you for bringing me here. Shanelle talks about them all the time. Especially your former mother-in-law.”

Damien snickered. 

“Yes. Mom is where Shanelle gets her personality from. That Jamaican fire runs through my daughter's veins.”

“And mine,” Marquise added. 

The two shared a chuckle. After a short flight that evening, His Majesty found himself back home in Boston and getting ready for his graduation. The next day, his wife, children, mother, and mother-in-law arrived from Cordonia. And he couldn't wait to hold his babies again. 

“I've missed you three so much,” he said as he hugged them. 

“We've missed you too Daddy! How has your trip been?” Khari asks. 

“It's been good but it's better now that you three are here. And just like I promised you, we’re together again. And you and your brothers can explore the house.” Marquise replied as he led his family into the living room. “But before that, I believe I have a few items to return.”

He pulled out Kylo’s blanket and Zyon’s bear. 

“I believe that these belong to the two of you.”

Later that night after a big dinner and getting his children off to sleep. His Majesty went to check on his mother who was just settling into her bed. 

“Are you alright Mama?”

“Yes, my love. I'm fine. I am perfectly happy.”

“Happy eh?”

“Yes of course my son. By this time Saturday, you'll have your Doctorate in hand. And will be able to display it in your office back home.”

Marquise chuckled. 

“It means the world that you’re here with me.”

“It means the world to be here. To represent our kingdom and our family.”

“It's funny. I look around this room and I can't help but miss Papa. I wish he could be here.”

Margo took his hands in hers and looked at him with a warm smile. 

“I know you do, my son. The last time I was here was with him when you earned your bachelor's degree. He would be thrilled to see you earn your Ph.D. As a matter of fact, the whole flight he would've had the children in stitches and excited about your graduation. But it's just Papa that you miss is it?”

Marquise took a deep breath. 

“No. My heart aches for her. I miss her. I wish she could be here as well.”

“She is here my love. She's so incredibly proud of the man you have become. She would be filled with such pride at all you have accomplished in your life. And so would Papa. They look down from heaven with smiles as bright as the sun and as wide as a Cheshire Cat.”

Marquise shook his head with a smile before kissing her forehead softly. 

“Thank you, Mama. You always know what I need.”

She kissed his cheek. 

“I'm your mother. I will always know what you need.”

“Get your rest, Mama. I'll see you in the morning.”

Margo smiled at him as he left the room and returned to the master bedroom where his wife was. He climbed into bed with her and wrapped himself around her. 

“My big ass baby.”

“I've missed you.”

“I've missed you too but you are way too heavy. Now get off of me.”

Tried as she might, but Shanelle could not get him off of her. 

“Marquise…I…can’t…breathe! Get off me!”

He finally let her go.

“Big ass creep!” she said as she caught her breath. 

“Your big ass creep. Thank you.”

“Yeah, yeah.” 

She snuggled into him. 

“How are you feeling?” she asks. 

“Relieved. It'll all be over soon. All the hours of study and presentation and research will have all paid off.”

“Mmmhmm. And soon you will officially be a Doctor and a King.”

Marquise snorted. 

“Very funny.”

“You love me.”

“Indeed I do. I will say I can't wait to see our children walk the stage with me.”

Shanelle shook her head with a smile. 

“Their little cap and gowns came the day after you left. So Khari has been teaching the boys how to walk the stage.”

“Please tell me you got it on video.”

Shanelle handed him her phone. 

“See for yourself, Your Majesty.”

Marquise watched as his daughter tried to teach her brothers how to walk a graduation stage in hilarious fashion. 

“Well…she tried.”

“Yup. They are cute though.”

“Very,” he said with a small smile. 

As he lay in bed with his wife, Marquise became contemplative. 

“Penny for your thoughts?” she asks. 

“My thoughts are worth more than all the literal gold in our vault. But since it's you, sure,” he replied. 

“What's really on your mind? Is it your mother?” she asks. 

Marquise sighed. 

“Yes. I can't help but wish she was here. I can't help but want her to be here. I want to see her celebrate with you, Margo, and your parents. And I want to see her standing behind our children. Cheering them on.” he paused to clear his throat, “You would think that after 26 years my heart would have healed itself by now. But it hasn't. That void in my heart is still there. That need to see her, to be around her, to be able to hold her hand or hug her is still there. I just hope to God that I've made her proud.”

“I know it is. And I know in my heart that you have made her proud. Everything that you've accomplished in and with your life has made her proud. This is just another accolade to add to the list of things that she's proud of you for.” 

He kissed her forehead softly. 

“Thank you, my love.”

“It's what I’m here for.”

He smiled at her as he held her close. 

That Saturday was the big day for His Majesty. After getting dressed himself, he hilariously got his children dressed in their caps and gowns. With both boys being so enamored with their caps. Once everyone was ready it was time to head to the university. Once they arrived Marquise took a very deep breath for this was it. Everything he'd worked for had led up to this very moment. And it was a moment that didn't disappoint.

He finally got to do the one thing he had been dying to do. Walk the graduation stage. But what made it even more special was his children walking with him. He was proud as they stole the show. Afterward, he found himself in his mother’s arms. 

“I am so proud of you, my love. So proud! You've done it, my boy! You've really done it!” Margo said proudly. 

“Thank you. I'm still in shock but I am so thankful to have you here. By my side, to celebrate with me.”

“My love, there is nowhere on this earth that I’d rather be. I got to watch you achieve yet another one of your dreams.”

Marquise closed his eyes and laid his forehead against hers. 

“Look at me, son.”

He looked at her. 

“I wholeheartedly believe that Eleanor is jumping for joy right now. She is elated that her son is not only a King but he's also now a Doctor. You are her greatest dream come true. Her smile is as bright as the sky and as wide as a canyon. And so is Papa. You know he is in heaven just bragging about his boy doing it yet again. Telling every angel he comes across that his son has become a Doctor.”

He pulled her close. 

“Thank you. For every single thing. I would not be where I am, I would not be the man I am, without you. Please don't ever forget that.”

“I never have and I never will my son. Now go celebrate my love. Go on.”

Later that night after hours of celebrating with his family. He spent time with the one he loves most, his wife. They were nestled together on the couch in the living room. 

“I'm so proud of you. You know that right?” she asks. 

He placed a sweet kiss on the palm of her left hand. 

“I know. You've been one of my biggest cheerleaders throughout all of this. When I wanted to stop or give up you told me to keep going. Or else you'd slug me.” he replies. 

Shanelle snorted. 

“Mission accomplished.” 

Shanelle took a look around the room. 

“Our story began right here. In this house. On this couch because someone’s big ass pulled his hamstring racing a bunch of teenagers.”

He punched her. 

“Ow!”

“That's what you get!”

“Jerk!” she hissed. 

“Chicken, shrimp, or goat?” he asked.  

“You're lucky I love you.”

“I really am. Because at the time we got engaged, there was a part of me that feared you would've turned me down.”

Shanelle took a deep breath. 

“Please don't hate me for this.”

“For what?” he asked. 

“There was a part of me that wanted to tell you no. A HUGE part. I wanted to run away from you and not look back.” she replied. 

“Why didn't you?” he asks. 

“Because I love you. That's why. I couldn't let you go even when my brain was screaming for me to do so. You showed me what true love is. You made a promise that you have never broken. You promised to love, protect, and nurture my heart and my love. And you have constantly and consistently kept that promise.” she replies. 

“And I always will. If you don't believe anything else from me, you can believe that.”

Shanelle smiled at him as they continued to enjoy a quiet moment together. Once back in Cordonia, planning for the Winter Festival kicked into high gear. Crews worked overtime making sure every detail was perfect and to Shanelle’s exact specifications. All the while Marquise had plans of his own. 

With the palace being as big as it is, there is a lot of unused and mostly dead space on certain floors. So he decided to have three floors converted. One into a personal bowling alley. Another into a massive indoor ball pit and playground for his children. The final floor is the one he's most excited about, that floor will be an indoor laser tag arena. And it has to be tested out to make sure it's safe and ready for the barrage of kids and adults who will want to play. Because it will be open to his family and the staff and their families. 

That Friday before the Winter Festival, Their Majesties hosted their family, both immediate and extended at the palace residence. While the children were having a time running around playing, Marquise pulled Logan aside. 

“Come with me,” Marquise said to Logan. 

“Where we going?” he asks. 

“It's a surprise. Trust me you'll like it.” Marquise replied. 

“Nope! You know I don't like surprises unless I’m in on them. So where are we going?” Logan asks. 

“I'll show you when we get there,” Marquise replied through clenched teeth. 

“Ohhhh…okay Uncle Scar.”

“Shut up and move Simba.”

Marquise led Logan to an elevator and used a keycard to enter. 

“Well, this is spooky…” 

“Get in the elevator Logan.”

Logan shot him a suspicious look before he and Marquise got into the elevator. 

“Okay. I'm in the elevator. Now what?” Logan asks. 

“Now we go down to the basement,” Marquise replied. 

“To your dungeon?” Logan asks. 

“No. That's on the other side of the palace. And you'd have no access to that. But this is something else.” Marquise replies. 

They rode the elevator down and got off when it dinged. Once out of the elevator, they walked down a hall to a door with a keypad. 

“What's behind the door?” Logan asks. 

Rather than answer, Marquise smirked and then slid his keycard to open the door. When the door opened, Logan’s jaw dropped. 

“Welcome to my newest toy.”

“What is it?” Logan asked. 

“This is my brand new laser tag arena,” Marquise replied. 

“Laser…tag…arena?!” 

“That's what I said.”

“Dude! When the hell did you have time to do all of this?” Logan asks. 

“Construction started back in May. And was completed after the boy's birthday. But it's still not quite ready yet.” Marquise replies. 

“What do you mean?” Logan asked. 

“It hasn't been tested…yet,” Marquise replies. 

That's when Logan’s grin widened. 

“And who's going to be brave enough to test it out, sire?”

“Why we are, my good man!” 

“Man! Let's go!”

The two suited up and spent a few hours laughing and having a good time in the arena. When they left both were buzzing. 

“That was amazing. Thank you for sharing it with me. Even though you cheated half the time.”

Marquise snorted. 

“You're welcome. And thank you for coming. I'm glad you had a good time.”

“I can't wait to tell my wife about it.”

“As long as you don't tell the children. I want it to be a surprise for them.”

“My lips are sealed, Your Highness.”

When they got to the common area, their wives were enjoying a glass of wine.

“And just where have you two been the past few hours?” Shanelle asked them. 

“Out.” They both reply. 

The wives looked at each other. 

“Uh-huh. You two went to check out Marquise’s laser tag arena, didn't you?” Bronwyn asks. 

The men's jaws dropped. 

“How do you know?!” they asked. 

Bronwyn answered by pointing to Shanelle. 

“How do YOU know?!” they asked. 

Shanelle shrugged. 

“I might've accidentally stumbled upon the construction site one day.”

“You mean you were being nosy?” Marquise asks. 

“It is my job to be,” Shanelle replied. 

Marquise groaned. 

“Relax. Your kid doesn't know. I haven't told her.”

Marquise visibly relaxed. 

“I can't keep nothing from you, can I?” Marquise asked. 

“Nope. Now move it, you two. We have a Winter Festival to get ready for tomorrow.” Shanelle replied. 

The next day was the day of the Cordonian Winter Festival. All of Shanelle's hard work and planning had finally come to fruition. Many enjoyed a plethora of winter activities. Including snowmobiles. Which Marquise, Logan, Branden, and Brayden took full advantage of. 

“Alright, Brayden. We got a big job.”

“What's that?” he asked. 

“We gotta beat your dad and brother in the race,” Marquise replied. 

“Yeah yeah! Go super fast!”

“And do you know what we win when we win?” Marquise asked his nephew. 

“What uncle?” 

“Bragging rights my boy! Bragging rights!”

“Yay!” 

“So ready…set…”

“VRRRROOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMM!”

“And we're off!” 

While the dads and the boys enjoyed the snowmobiles, Shanelle took the girls ice skating out on the frozen pond. 

After riding around on snowmobiles it was time for the main event, the annual snowball fight. That both royals were determined to win. 

“Any last words before I take your title, Your Majesty?” Shanelle asked her husband. 

“Keep dreaming woman!” Marquise replied with a smirk. 

“I am so going to enjoy this!”

“You enjoy losing?…how very odd.”

Once the trash talk was done, the whistle was blown and the fight was on. It was a battle of giggling proportions. With trying to take out one another. 

“Will you hold still?!” Shanelle shouted at her husband. 

“Why? So you can hit me?!” he replied. 

“Yes!”

“No!”

The snowball fight was epic and ended in a draw. Which was a delight to all who participated, watched, and cheered. Before the event was over His Majesty decided to try his hand at axe throwing with Sam and a very animatedly drunk Logan. 

“Uh, Logan?” Sam asks. 

���Yeah?” Logan replied. 

“How many of those have you had?” Marquise asked, pointing to the pint in Logan’s hand. 

“Including this one?” he replied before downing the rest of the pint, “eight.”

Sam and Marquise looked at each other. 

“You've had eight pints of Skullcracker Ale? Are you nuts? That stuff is powerful!” Marquise asked. 

“Yeah, I know. Who knew you Europeans could make a strong ale?” Logan replied before grabbing an ax, “Now let's really have some fun!” 

“Oh Dear God…” Marquise groaned.

“If he hits either one of us…” Sam warned. 

“Noted.”

Sam and Marquise stood way back and watched Logan toss the axe and wildly miss his first target. 

“Missed it by an inch. Let me try again.”

Logan tried again with Sam and Marquise looking on. 

“How long are you going to let this go on?” Sam asks. 

“Until either he runs out of steam or they run out of axes,” Marquise replied. 

“Which one is more likely to happen?” Sam asks. 

“They run out of axes,” Marquise replies. 

“So we're gonna be here a while?” Sam asks. 

“Yup so settle in my friend,” Marquise replies. 

Later that night after the Winter Festival had concluded, His Majesty told his wife what had happened at the ax throwing booth.

“Logan had how many pints?” Shanelle asks.

“You heard me. He had eight pints of Skullcracker Ale.” Marquise replied. 

“How did you let him drink that many pints?” 

“First of all, I didn't let him do anything. He was already halfway through his eighth one when I got there. And second, saying you’re great friends with the King will get you anything in this kingdom. Including eight pints of Skullcracker Ale. Especially when the limit is four pints.” 

Shanelle groaned. 

“That hangover is about to be epic.”

“Oh yeah. He's gonna be feeling it for days. But thank goodness there's a hangover cure.”

“I can only handle three pints of Skullcracker Ale. I don’t know how Logan managed to drink eight of them.”

“Because he has an iron liver?” 

Shanelle snorted. 

“That's for sure.”

“And how are you, my love? What was the final tally?” he asks. 

“I'm good. I'm exhausted. Today was so much fun. And the money raised during the silent auction was enough to fund the Children's Fund. All in all, it was a great day. People had fun and that's all I care about. It's why I do this every year.”

“I know and you do a brilliant job at this if I do say so myself.”

“Careful Your Majesty. Your personal bias is showing.”

“So? I'm allowed to brag about and celebrate my beautiful wife’s accomplishments all I like. Thank you very much.” 

“Fine. Just one question.”

“Hmm?”

“What are we doing for Christmas?” she asks. 

“How about somewhere tropical?” he replies. 

“Works for me!” 

“I shall make our Christmas arrangements post haste.” 

“Yay!”

Just then there was an urgent knock at their bedroom door. 

“Who in the world is that?” she asks. 

“I'll go find out,” he replied. 

When he got up and answered the door, there was an attendant on the other side. 

“Yes?” he asked as he stepped outside. 

“Apologies for the disturbance this late Your Majesty but there is news out of Earl Amos’s house.” the attendant replies. 

“What is it?” he asked. 

“Earl Amos Barbaroux is dead.” the attendant replied. 

“What?!”

“He was stabbed to death in his office.” 

“What?! By who?” 

“Lady Alicia, sire. From what I have been told they got into an argument and she stabbed him in the chest with a letter opener. Repeatedly.” 

“Where is she now?”

“An arrest warrant was issued for her but she's taken refuge at the old palace but that's all I know at the moment.”

Marquise groaned. 

“Great…thank you for informing me. Please keep me informed of any further details.”

“At once sire.”

When Marquise entered the bedroom, he had an annoyed look on his face. 

“What's that look for?” Shanelle asks. 

“Earl Amos is dead,” he replied. 

“Lady Alicia’s husband?” 

“Yes. She stabbed him to death.”

“What?! Why?” 

“I don't know yet. But I will find out. Just not right now.”

“What happens to his estate in the meantime?”

“It goes to their oldest daughter.” 

“Do you know where she is now?”

“Hiding out at your palace to avoid arrest but that's as far as I've gotten.” 

“She won't be there for long. I'll put the call in to have her removed from the property. I will NOT be sheltering her.”

“You're not. Her step-sister is.”

“I don't care about her step-sister. Genevieve can kiss my whole ass. Alicia’s gone as early as tomorrow morning.”

Marquise smirked. 

“So says the Queen.” 

“So shall it be.”